Chilocorus bijugus Mulsant

Chilocorus bijugus is an important indigenous predator of San Jose scale Quadraspidiotus perniciosus in hilly areas of the country.

Chilocorus bijugus is produced on Quadraspidiotus perniciosus infested fruits. The pumpkins fully covered by scale insects are offered to the females in breeding cage daily and withdrawn to be placed back in original cages for the development of grubs. Within 33 days the development is completed. Each female Chilocorus bijugus is capable of laying about 80 eggs, but it is most productive up to first 45 days after that the egg laying capacity is reduced to half and in the last week of its life the female productivity is completely diminished. The females live for about 75 days. The adult beetles after 45 days of their life are collected and released in the field during the season to keep the production economically viable. The adult beetles are also fed on agar-sugar candy to get maximum out of them.