Impact of cypermethrin on the functional response, predatory and mating behaviour of a non-target potential biological control agent Acanthaspis pedestris (Stal) (Het., Reduviidae)

The impact of the insecticide cypermethrin on the functional response, predatory behaviour and mating behaviour was studied in a non-target potential reduviid biological control agent Acanthaspis pedestris (Stal). The intensity of abnormal behaviour increased as the concentration of cypermethrin was increased. The insecticide negatively affected the functional response events such as attack ratio, handling time and rate of discovery. Cypermethrin also reduced the predatory efficiency and prolonged the mating events in A. pedestris . The type II (decelerating curve) of functional response was altered into a type IV (dome-shaped curve) by cypermethrin.