A. Sujatha ¹, S. P. Singh ¹

Affiliations
1 Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (ICAR) Kasaragod 671124, Kerala, IN

Abstract

The chrysopid, Mallada astur (Banks), recorded for the first time as promising egg and early larval predator of O. arenosella in interior Karnataka was evaluated for its predatory efficiency. This predator is predominant on coconut and palmyrah palms of 30m height. Its short life cycle (24.5 days) on a combined diet of eggs and larvae of O. arenosella, high fecundity per female (mean=102.3 eggs), and its ability to thrive in the larval galleries of O. arenosella, strongly support its utilization as a biocontrol agent during peak period of infestation (September-February) in interior Karnataka. Net house studies revealed that release of one M. astur larva (4 day old) per severely infested leaflet with about 35·50 neonate larvae will effectively reduced the population of the pest within a week.

Keywords

Biocontrol, Biology, Mallada astur, Opisina arenosella.

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A. Sujatha ¹, S. P. Singh ²

Affiliations
1 Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (ICAR), Kasaragod, 671 124, Kerala, IN
2 Project Directorate of Biological Control, Bangalore 560 024, IN

Abstract

A systematic surveillance of coconut leaf eating caterpillar, Opisina arenosella Walker and its important parasitoids was carried out on young and old coconut palms in interior and coastal areas of Karnataka during 1996-1997. Among the parasitoids recorded, Apanteles taragamae Viereck was active during summer and rainy seasons in coastal and interior areas, respectively. Meteoridea hutsoni Nixon and Brachymeria spp. predominated during winter and summer seasons, respectively. and showed their perfect synchronization with high population of O. arenosella. Studies on the effect of abiotic factors on the activity of these parasitoids showed variation between the species, regions and palm ages.

Keywords

Coconut, Biocontrol, Natural Enemies, Opisina arellosella, Parasitoids.

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A. Sujatha ¹, S. P. Singh ²

Affiliations
1 Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Kasaragod 671 124, Kerala, IN
2 Project Directorate of Biological Control, P. B. No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560 024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Surveys in coastal and interior Karnataka during 1996 and 1997 revealed the occurrence of four larval, one larval-pupal and thirteen pupal parasitoids and eleven predators of Opisina arenosella Walker. Eight hyperparasitoids were also recorded.

Keywords

Hyperparasitoids, Opisina arenosella, Parasitoid, Predator.

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A. Sujatha ¹, S. M. Zaheruddeen ¹, J. Krishna Prasadji ¹

Affiliations
1 Agricultural Research Station, A.P. Agricultural University, Ambajipeta 533 214, IN

Abstract

One hundred and sixty Oryctes rhinoceros (L.) beetles, collected from 30 villages of Godavari districts of Andhra Prasesh were screened for baculovtrus disease. Examination of gross morphology of midgut and giemsa-stained smears of midgut aspirates and squash showed typical symptoms of baculovirus infection in 53.1% beetles. Similarly, O. rhinoceros grubs from 14.0% breeding sites in Gudapalli village and 20.0% breeding sites in Allavaram village showed the disease symptoms with 8.4% and 4.0% grub infection respectively. Present survey reveals the presence of Oryctes baculovirus in Andhra Pradesh.

Keywords

Baculovirus, Natural Incidence, Oryctes rhinoceros, Coconut.

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