BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR OF SPHEDANOLESTES SIGNATUS DISTANT (INSECTA : HETEROPTERA : REDUVIIDAE) A POTENTIAL PREDATOR OF HELOPELTIS ANTONII SIGNORET

S. signatus Distant is found to inhabit among bushes in the scrub jungles and the agroecosystems of southern Tamil Nadu. It is entomophagous and predating on a variety of arthropods including insect pests in a sequential pattern : arousal-orientation-fixation-antennal extension-prey contact-rostral insertion-paralysing the victim-transportation-rostral thrusting and withdra­wal-lifting of the prey-suction and evacuation-dropping the empty case-post predatory cleaning. The mating behaviour is also exhibited in a sequential pattern; arousal-approach-nuptial clasp-riding over-embracing-genitalia extension and connect- ion-termination of copulation and post copulatory acts. It lays ochraceous eggs in 9 d after emergence singly and cementing basally. The eggs hatch in between 10 to 15 d and the pale ochraceous nymphs turn into deep ochrace­ous within 1 h. The total stadial period from I instar to adult ranges from 49 to 58 d. The males live longer (27.5 d) when compared to females (21 d). The sex ratio is unbiased.