Abstract:

<i>Taraka hamada</i> Druce,an aphidophagous lycaenid butterfly,is a dominant natural enemy,has a big population and strong predacious ability of aphides and plays an important role in controlling aphides in bamboo forests.The daily consumptions of 1^st ,2^nd and 3^rd instar larvae of <i>T.hamada</i> on aphids were 93.60,161.80 and 266.20,respectively.The diurnal predatory rates of <i>T.hamada</i> on aphids following the below sequence,morning< afternoon< night,and the biggest predatory rate appeard in the period of between 21:30 and 1:30.The optimum temperature range was 25-30℃.The highest consumption of <i>T.hamada</i> on aphids took place at 30 ℃,and the predatory rate declined when temperature roise to 35 ℃.Spatial-heterogeneity and intraspecies interruption can affect the predatory behavior of <i>T.hamada.</i> With the increase of spatial-heterogenicity and intraspecies interruption,the consumption of <i>T.hamada</i> on aphids showed a decline.

Key words: <i>Taraka hamada</i>, bamboo aphides, daily consumption, predatory effect