Ankita Gupta ¹, H. M. Yeshwanth ², Christer Hansson ³, T. Venkatesan ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bengaluru 560 024, Karnataka, IN
2 Department of Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru 560 065, IN
3 Natural History Museum (Entomology), Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, GB

Abstract

Species of Neochrysocharis Kurdjumov (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) are potential biocontrol agents for many important agricultural pests. This paper reports, for the first time, gregarious parasitism of Neochrysocharis nr. diastatae (Howard) on eggs of Letana sp. (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) on the host plant Pterospermum reticulatum Wt.&Arn. (Malvaceae) in Karnataka, India. The eggs of Letana sp. were observed along the margin of the leaves of P. reticulatum, visually distinguished as oval shaped structures. This is the first record of a host-parasitoid association between a species of Neochrysocharis and eggs of a Tettigoniidae grasshopper. DNA analysis of the parasitoid confirms a 100% match with a record of an unidentified species of Neochrysocharis from Canada. The geographical distribution and host record indicates that there may be a "N. diastatae" complex that this species actually belongs to, rather than being N. diastatae itself as N. diastatae is a Nearctic species and mainly known from agromyzids.

Keywords

Grasshopper, Gregarious Egg Parasitoid, Pterospermum reticulatum, Oriental Region.

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Richa Varshney ¹, H. M. Yeshwanth ², Chandish R. Ballal ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, P.B. No. 2491, HA Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore - 560024, Karnataka, IN
2 Department of Entomology, GKVK, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore – 560065, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Dortus primarius Distant (Miridae: Deraeocorinae) was observed to feed on thrips and other soft bodied insects in the field. Biology, morphology and feeding potential of this species were studied for the first time in the laboratory (at 26 ± 2˚C and 65 ± 2% RH) on UV irradiated Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) eggs. A total of five instars were observed, with nymphal duration of 17.2 days. Mean fecundity was 127.6 eggs per female. Female longevity was higher than male. One nymph could consume a total of 363 C. cephalonica eggs in its life span. Adult male and female fed on a total of 713 and 1014.75 eggs, respectively. Cost of producing 100 D. primarius nymphs and adult nymphs neonate/first instar was INR 10.34/- and INR 200/-, respectively. In this paper all immature stages, eggs and adults are described with live images. Results showed that this species could be reared on UV irradiated C. cephalonica eggs and bean pieces successfully. Further studies are needed to evaluate this species against insect pests in field.

Keywords

Biology, Dortus Primarius, Feeding Potential, Mirid Bug, Rearing Protocol.

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