Not AvailableField experiments were conducted to assess the diversity, abundance and role of aphidophagous predators
in cashew during 2015 and 2016 at Goa. The aphid Aphis odinae (=Toxoptera odinae) (Van der Goot) is
an occasional sporadic insect pest of cashew. The aphid was preyed upon by six species of predators,
including three species of coccinellids, viz., Scymnus castaneus Sicard, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (F.) and
Pseudaspidimerus flaviceps (Walker) and three species of syrphids, viz., Paragus serratus (F.), Dideopsis
aegrota (F.) and Ischidon scutellaris (F.). Among these, S. castaneus (11.05 grubs/nut/leaf) was the most
abundant followed by P. serratus (5.02 larvae/nut). Their populations followed an almost similar trend
with that of the prey aphid with maximum populations being observed during 6th standard meteorological
week. Significant positive correlation was observed between the aphid and the predators except for I.
scutellaris. These predators were effective in managing the aphid.ICAR-CCARI Institute projec
