Richa Varshney ¹, Chandish R. Ballal ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Insect Ecology, ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, P.B. No. 2491, H.A Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal , Bangalore - 560024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Recently, in India severe incidence by the invasive insect pest, the South American tomato pinworm, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) was reported for the first time infesting tomato crop in Pune, Maharashtra. Later infestation was reported in the other states of India. In T. absoluta infested tomato field, zoophytophagous mirid, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) was observed to be associated with tomato pinworm. A net house experiment was conducted to evaluate N. tenuis on T. absoluta infested tomato plants. The aim was to ascertain, if releases of N. tenuis could reduce T. absoluta infestation or due to its phytophagous nature it could lead to damage of tomato plants. The treatments comprised of a) release of N. tenuis on T. absoluta infested plants, b) releases of N. tenuis on uninfested plants and c) T. absoluta infested plants were maintained as control. Results indicated that in treatment with N. tenuis, number of T. absoluta eggs and the % mined area were lesser by 83.25% and 89%, respectively. Overall number of necrotic rings per plant during all 10 weeks caused by N. tenuis was significantly lesser in T. absoluta infested plants treated with N. tenuis (0.74±0.18) compared to treatment with N. tenuis alone (2.16±0.35). Flower abortion was also not observed at this density (total release of 6 adults/plant). When mean number of T. absoluta eggs were high in 3rd week (9.54 eggs/plant) number of necrotic rings were negligible though average number of N. tenuis was 4.1/plant during the same week. During 5th week when number of N. tenuis was on peak (11.2/plant), the average numbers of T. absoluta eggs and necrotic rings were 3.61eggs/plant and 0.46/ plant, respectively. It shows that number of necrotic rings per plant increased with decreasing T. absoluta population. Further studies are needed to investigate the precise role of N. tenuis as a natural mortality factor of T. absoluta in field situations and its damage potential after a long interaction with plant in pest scarcity and when it occurs at high density.

Keywords

Nesidiocoris tenuis, Necrotic Rings, Tomato, Tuta absoluta, Zoophytophagous.

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A. N. Shylesha ¹, S. K. Jalali ¹, Ankita Gupta ¹, Richa Varshney ¹, T. Venkatesan ¹, Pradeeksha Shetty ¹, Rakshit Ojha ¹, Prabhu C. Ganiger ², Omprakash Navik ¹, K. Subaharan ¹, N. Bakthavatsalam ¹, Chandish R. Ballal ¹, A. Raghavendra ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bengaluru - 560024, Karnataka, IN
2 All India Coordinated Research Project on Small Millets, Univeristy of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bengaluru - 560065, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Occurrence of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), commonly known as fall armyworm, in southern India is reported along with associated natural enemies. Severe damage was noticed in Chikkaballapur, Hassan, Shivamogga, Davanagere and Chitradurga during July-August 2018. The incidence ranged from 9.0 to 62.5 percent at various locations, maximum incidence was recorded in Hassan district followed by Chikkaballapur, Davanagere, Shivamogga and Chitradurga. Morphology and molecular based taxonomic tools were used for the identification of this pest. The GenBank accession number MH704433 of Chikkaballapur population was released on 1^st August, 2018 and Barcode obtained from BOLD System-ID: AGIMP054-18. The survey also revealed natural parasitism by egg parasitoids viz., Telenomus sp. (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) and Trichogramma sp. (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), gregarious larval parasitoid, Glyptapanteles creatonoti (Viereck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) solitary larval parasitoid, Campoletis chlorideae Uchida (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), and a solitary indeterminate larval-pupal (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae) parasitoid. Spodoptera frugiperda is the first host record for G. creatonoti across the globe. Glyptapanteles creatonoti, being a well established parasitoid of various noctuids in India and Malaysia, was capable of parasitizing S. frugiperda. Besides these, other commonly found bioagents viz., Forficula sp. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) and entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi (Farl.) Samson was also collected in large numbers. We report the natural enemy complex of S. frugiperda for the first time from India. The electro physiological response of Indian population of S. frugiperda male adults to pheromone was established. The studies to manage this pest by any/all means are in progress.

Keywords

Karnataka, Maize, New Pest.

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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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