PREDATION BY PODISUS MACULIVENTRIS (SAY) ON MEXICAN BEAN BEETLE, EPILACHNA VARIVESTIS MULSANT, IN INDIANA SOYBEANS

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Abstract
Daily rates of predation by Podisus maculiventris (Say) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) on Mexican bean beetle larvae, Epilachna varivestis Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), were measured in soybeans, Glycine max (L.). The number of Mexican bean beetle larvae attacked per predator per day remained consistently low throughout 2 years of study. Estimates of the area searched by P. maculiventris were calculated from the number of prey attacked, number of prey available for attack, and leaf area. As leaf area increased, P. maculiventris searched more area, demonstrating a search strategy shared with other predators of canopy-inhabiting prey in soybeans.