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Mandeep Rathee ¹, Pala Ram ¹, Swati Mehra ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Entomology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125004, Haryana, IN

Abstract

Studies were carried out to study the effect of storage of Aenasius bambawalei Hayat in adult stage at low temperatures viz., 5, 10, 15 and 20°C for different durations (1to 8 weeks) on the survival, longevity, fecundity and per cent females emerging in F1 progeny. One-day-old parasitoid adults were stored at each of the temperatures at 75 per cent relative humidity in full darkness. Key biological parameters of the adults surviving cold storage were studied and compared with that of unstored (control i.e. at 27°C) parasitoids. The survival of the adults was worse affected at 5°C, where the survival of the males and females was only 68 and 80 per cent, respectively, after one week of storage and complete mortality was observed after five weeks of storage. The best results were obtained at 10°C, where 100 per cent of the males and females survived storage up to three weeks and thereafter survival declined significantly being minimum of 20 and 32 per cent, respectively, after eighth week of storage. Adult longevity (19.20 and 33.00 days, respectively, for male and female), fecundity (24.00 parasitized hosts/female in five days) and per cent females in F1 progeny (48.10%) recorded after one week of storage at 10°C were comparable with the control. Thus, adults of the parasitoid, A. bambawalei could be stored only for 1 week at 10°C without any significant effect on the key biological parameters. Therefore current studies suggest that short-term storage could be used for maintaining and accumulating large number of parasitoids for inoculative releases against Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley.

Keywords

Aenasius bambawalei, Adults, Biological Parameters, Cold Storage, Storage Duration, Temperature.

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Mandeep Rathee ¹, Pala Ram ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Entomology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar - 125004, Haryana, IN

Abstract

Overwintering studies were carried out by placing newly emerged adults of the parasitoid, Aenasius arizonensis (Girault) (=Aenasius bambawalei Hayat) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and one day old mummies of Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) (i.e. parasitoid in pupal stage) during winter season under screen house conditions in 2012- 13. Maximum mean pupal period of male and female parasitoids was 86.47 and 92.67 days, respectively, when mummies were exposed on 5^th December followed by 73.69 and 82.83 days, respectively. When exposed on 20^th December the emergence of parasitoid adults from the overwintering mummies seemed to be well synchronized with ambient weather conditions. This implies that there is no diapause in A. arizonensis. There was no adult emergence until 10^th standard week due to prevailing low temperature conditions during December and January with average maximum and minimum temperatures of 20.9, 6.4°C and 17.1, 4.1°C, respectively. Emergence of parasitoid adults from overwintering mummies of different exposure dates viz., December 05 and December 20, 2012; January 04, January 19, February 03 and February 18, 2013 started from 11^th standard week (first week of February), reached maximum in 14^th standard week (first week of March) and continued until 16^th standard week (third week of March). Maximum temperature ranged between 20.3 and 29.6°C and minimum between 6.6 and 12.5°C during the period of adult emergence. Adult parasitoids successfully overwintered when provided with honey. Males survived for 52-84 days (69.33 days) and females survived for 69-103 days (83.40 days) during winter season in absence of host, when exposed on 5^th December, 2012. Our results demonstrate that the parasitoid is able to successfully overwinter as pupa and adult via combination of slow development and increased adult longevity. This information seems to be useful in enhancing population of this parasitoid in spring when A. arizonensis can suppress solenopsis mealybug on cotton crop.

Keywords

Aenasius arizonensis, Adult, Mummies, Overwintering, Phenacoccus solenopsis, Pupal Period.

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Pradeep Kumar Dalal ¹, Mandeep Rathee ¹, Amit Singhdoha ², Navin Vikram Singh ¹, G. S. Yadav ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Entomology, C.C.S. Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana), IN
2 Department of Forestry, C.C.S. Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana), IN

Abstract

Poplar is an important tree of agroforestry systems. Among several insect pests Clostera spp. pose serious threat to the poplar trees as it defoliates their leaves completely. Hisar, Haryana witnessed the outbreak of this pest during September-October months in the year 2016. Keeping that in view, biology of this insect was studied during October 2016. The total duration of immature stage was found to be 24.1 days. The fecundity of adult females recorded to be 186 eggs per female. Full grown final instar larva consumed 2.99 g. The life history information would be useful in efficient management of this pest.

Keywords

Clostera cupreata, Poplar, Agroforestry, Biology.

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Mandeep Rathee ¹, R. C. Sihag ², Pradeep Kumar Dalal ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Entomology, College of Basic Sciences, C.C.S.Haryana Agricultural Sciences, Hisar (Haryana), IN
2 College of Basic Sciences, C.C.S.Haryana Agricultural Sciences, Hisar (Haryana), IN

Abstract

Beekeeping remains one of the profitable areas among agriculturists, commercial beekeepers and farmers, and is being exploited to its full potential to increase their income. Among several limiting factors, honeybee enemies pose a major threat to this enterprise. Wax moths and wasps cause immense losses to beekeepers throughout the country, therefore, got maximum attention by the researchers. In addition, birds are also known to attack honey bees. Various species of birds predate on honeybees and their attack is pronounced during dearth period and cloudy conditions. Major predatory birds (Class: Aves) of honeybees are Merops apiaster (European bee-eater), Merops orientalis (small green bee-eater) Merops leschenaultia (chestnut headed bee-eater) Merops persicus (blue cheeked bee-eater), Merops philippinus (blue tailed bee-eater), Indicator indicator, Indicator xanthonotus and Indicator varigatus (honey guides). Minor birds are Picus viridis (Green woodpecker), Picoides major (Great spotted or variegated woodpecker), Parus major major (common great tit), Parus caeruleus (blue tit), Passer domesticus (house sparrow), Dicrurus macrocerus, Dicrurus aster (drongo/ king crow). In the present chapter identification, nature of damage and management of predatory birds has been discussed.

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Mandeep Rathee ¹, Pradeep Kumar Dalal ¹, R. C. Sihag ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Entomology, College of Basic Sciences, C.C.S. Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana), IN
2 College of Basic Sciences, C.C.S. Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar (Haryana), IN

Abstract

The foraging activity of honey bees depend on the availability of bee flora and the prevailing climatic conditions, and both of these are defined for a particular season round the year i.e. summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. The period when surplus bee flora i.e. source of nectar and pollen, is available for the bees to forage is known as honey flow season. In contrast, dearth period is marked by scarcity of bee flora. During extreme climatic events like scorching summer, freezing winter and monsoon, certain specific management tactics are required to maintain and safeguard the colonies in an apiary. The main aim is to prevent the colonies from collapsing, strengthen them to perform better and make beekeeping a profitable business. Beekeepers can maintain high performance level of colonies in terms of honey and other hive products by adopting suitable seasonal management tactics and maximize production. So, the basic principles behind seasonal management are: Ensuring adequate population of foragers in the hive at the right time for the collection of surplus nectar and pollen, providing space for storage of floral rewards i.e. nectar and pollen and ripening of nectar into honey, extracting honey from hive at the right time and strengthening and preparing the colonies to withstand any period of dearth and menace of bee enemies.

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