Loading...
Theses
Browse
4 results
Search Results
ThesisItem Open Access Eumolpinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of southern India(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2021) Amritha Kumari, S; KAU; Prathapan, K DThe present study entitled “The Eumolpinae (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of southern India” was carried out at Collage of Agriculture, Vellayani from October 2015 to March 2020. The study was designed with the objectives of collection and identification of the eumolpine leaf beetles of south India, preparation of illustrated keys to genera and species with emphasis on the characters of male and female genitalia and documentation of host plants in all possible cases. One thousand five hundred and two specimens from various ecosystems in south India were studied. Hand picking, aspiration, sweep netting and light traps were used to collect eumolpines. Specimens were also procured on loan basis from different institutions in India and abroad. Collected specimens were mounted and labelled. Available ecological and biological information was gathered in all cases. Genitalia was dissected as per standard procedures. Inflation and eversion of endophallus follow Yamasako & Obhayashi (2011). Specimens were identified tentatively based on the available literature and then confirmed by comparing with type specimens or consulting with experts. Measurements were made with a calibrated ocular micrometer and pertinent ratios were worked out. Illustrated keys, descriptions and diagnosis are provided. Male genitalia, including endophallus and female genitalia are described and illustrated. The Afrotropical genus Microeurydemus is newly reported from the Oriental Region. Malegia and Scelolanka are new reports to India. Pagria ingibbosa, P. ceylonica and P. pseudograta are new species records for India. Range of distribution of Basilepta subcostata and Trichochrysea are extended to south India. Tricliona Lefèvre, 1885 new snynonym is a new junior synonym of Bathseba Motschulsky, 1866. Neofidia Strother new name, is proposed as the replacement name for Fidia Baly, 1863, a junior homonym of Fidia Motschulsky, 1861. Bathseba syzygium n. sp. and Pseudostonopa palynophaga n. sp. are described as new to science. Eleven putative new species in the genera Mesocolaspis, Malegia, Microeurydemus, Basilepta, Cleoporus, Dermorhytis, Edistus, Pagria, Scelolanka and Trichochrysea were described. New host plant records include Anacardium occidentale L. (for Fidia kanaraensis), Ixora (for Eurypelta modesta), Aegle marmelos (for Colasposoma downesi), Mallotus atrovirens (for Cleoporus inornatus), Antidesma acidum (for Edistus sp.), Milletia pinnata (for Scelolanka). Bathseba syzygium n. sp. has been reported on Syzygium cumini and Pseudostonopa palynophaga n. sp. has been reported as a pollen feeder of Poaceae. Pagria signata species group warrants further investigations, due to inconsistencies in morphological, genetalic and molecular characters. The eumolpine leaf beetle fauna of south India comprises 146 species placed in 35 genera. Checklist of Eumolpinae of south India is provided. The study treated 53 species under 20 genera. Two new species, 11 putative new species in 10 genera, 12 new host plant records, several new distributional records and new characters of taxonomic value are reported. Nomenclature of many economically important eumolpines are updated.ThesisItem Open Access Galerucine leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Galerucini) of southern India(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2021) Viswajyothi, K; KAU; Prathapan, K DThe study entitled ‘The galerucine leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Galerucini) of southern India’ was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during September 2016−April 2021. The study was designed with the objectives of collection and identification of galerucine leaf beetles of southern India; documentation of host plants and other ecological data in all possible cases; preparation of illustrations and descriptions, with emphasis on characters of male and female genitalia; and preparation of an illustrated key to species. The study area encompasses the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Eight hundred and thirty-three specimens belonging to 41 species in 27 genera were studied. Detailed descriptions were prepared, with colour photographs of dorsal, ventral, lateral and anterior habitus as well as diagnostic characters, including male and female genitalia. Additionally, internal sac or endophallus was everted in relevant and possible cases and illustrated. Measurements and proportions are provided. An illustrated key to select genera and species of Galerucini of south India is given. A checklist of known galerucine leaf beetles of south India is provided. Two putative new genera and two putative new species are described and illustrated. A new species Charaea sahyadrica Bezdek and Viswajyothi was published from this study. The habiti of 20 species in colour, male genitalia of 22 species and female genitalia of 24 species are given for the first time. Twenty-seven new host plants, including eleven (40.7%) economically important ones, were recorded. New host plant records are Aulacophora calva on Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt, Cucumis sativus L. and Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir. (Cucurbitaceae); A. cincta on Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard (Sapotaceae); A. frontalis on Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. (Cucurbitaceae); A. impressa on Cucumis sativus L., Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir. and Trichosanthes cucumerina L. (Cucurbitaceae); A. opacipennis on Momordica charantia L. and Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. (Cucurbitaceae); Cassena bengalensis on Mucuna bracteata (L.) DC. (Fabaceae); Erganoides flavicollis on Naravelia ceylanica (L.) DC. (Ranunculaceae) and an unidentified legume (Fabaceae); Galerotella sp. on Cayratia Juss. sp. (Vitaceae); Hoplosaenidea indica on Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R. N. Parker (Meliaceae); Monolepta longitarsis on Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae) and Spondias pinnata (L. f.) Kurz (Anacardiaceae); Oides affinis on Spermacoce hispida L. and Spermacoce ocymoides Burm.F. (Rubiaceae); Oides flava (Olivier) on Cayratia sp. (Vitaceae); Gallerucida sp. on Cayratia sp.; Sphenoraia hopei on Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. (Fabaceae) and Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae); Trichomimastra hirsuta on Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) (Myrtaceae); Genus 1 on Spatholobus parviflorus (DC.) Kuntze (Fabaceae) and Genus 2 on Aporosa lindleyana (Wight) Baill. (Phyllanthaceae). New distribution records include two new country records and 10 new state records. The new records to India are A. opacipennis in Karnataka and Kerala and A. tibialis in Kerala. The new records to Kerala are A. frontalis; Cassena bengalensis; Erganoides flavicollis; Galerotella simplicicollis; Kanarella unicolor; Liroetes apicicornis; Mimastra alternata; Oides flava (Olivier); Genus 1 and Genus 2. The new records to Karnataka are Aulacophora parambikulamensis; Hoplasoma costatipennis; Mimastracella hirsuta; Sastroides besucheti and Trichomimastra hirsuta. Aulacophora calva is being reported for the first time in Karnataka and Kerala.ThesisItem Open Access Lamiinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of southern India(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2021) Sangamesh, R Hiremath; KAU; Prathapan, K DThe present study entitled “The Lamiinae (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) of southern India” was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2015 to 2020 with the objectives of collection and identification of the flat faced long-horned beetles (Lamiinae) of southern India, preparation of descriptions and illustrated key to species, with emphasis on characters of male and female genitalia and documentation of host plants in all possible cases. The specimens were collected using different methods viz., hand picking, sweep netting, light traps, jackfruit twig trap and rearing from the infected plant parts. The specimens were processed following the standard procedures. Similarly, dissections, photographs and illustrations were prepared. Details of the specimens examined and the measurements of different body parts including that of male and female genitalia are included under each species. All the species included in the present study were identified using available literature. Taxon descriptions were prepared by considering all the morphological variations and also including the variations of male and female genitalia wherever available. A checklist of the species and illustrated key to the genera documented in the present study are also provided. Present study has generated taxonomic and ecological information on the Lamiinae fauna of south India. Sixty six species belonging to 41 genera of south Indian Lamiinae were studied. Detailed descriptions and illustrations, including that of male and female genitalia, are provided. Species-wise distribution and host plant data are furnished wherever available. Ecological information is also provided for a few of the species. Descriptions of two new species, Miccolamia ferruginea and Notomulciber viraktamathi were published. These include species descriptions, key to Indian species of the respective genera and a discussion on the need for redefinition of the respective subgenera. Description of the male of Monochamus shembaganurensis, with additional information on its distribution, was published. Four new species were recognised, one each belonging to the genera Eunidia and Falsoropica and two of Glenea. New distributional and ecological data are furnished for Acalolepta tenuipes, Agelasta quadrimaculata, Apomecyna saltator, Apriona trilineata, Batocera rufomaculata, Coptops aedificator, Epepeotes uncinatus, Eucomatocera vittata, Eunidia bicolor, Eunidia variegata, Eunidia simplex, Exocentrus (Camptomyne) vittatus, Hirtaeschopalaea albolineata, Macrochenus tigrinus, Nupserha bicolor, Olenecamptus bilobus, Phelipara indica, Sthenias grisator, Sybra praeusta, Thylactus angularis, Zotalemimon posticatum and Zotalemimon procerum. Among the south Indian Lamiinae, Apomecyna saltator, Batocera rufomaculata, Celosterna scabrator, Cleonaria bicolor, Coptops aedificator, Glenea multiguttata, Nupserha bicolor, Olenecamptus bilobus, Sthenias grisator and Sybra praeusta are well known pestiferous species. There are many Lamiinae still awaiting discovery and formal naming. Hence, studies encompassing the different ecozones of the country are sure to add several new species of flat faced longhorned beetles to the Indian fauna. Many species are known only by original descriptions based on a single specimen. Hence, there is an urgent need for intensive studies to generate information on their natural history. Future studies should concentrate on revising and updating the taxonomy of Lamiinae of economic importance so as to develop effective IPM programmes. To promote and facilitate studies on biodiversity and conservation of the native fauna of longhorned beetles, there is an urgent need to digitalize the type specimens of Indian Cerambycidae deposited in several European natural history museums besides developing a database with interactive keys for easy identification. The future taxonomic works on Indian Cerambycidae should also aim for Phylogeny of Indian fauna based on integrative taxonomy.ThesisItem Open Access Characterization, evaluation and formulation of beauveria bassiana (Bals.) strains against rice bug, leptocorisa spp. (Hemiptera:alydidae)(Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellanikkara, 2021) Nasiya Beegum, A N; KAU; Madhu SubramanianThe rice bug, Leptocorisaspp. is one of the most important sap sucking insect pests of rice in the tropics. Both nymphs and adults suck sap from developing rice grains during the milky grain stage, leading to discoloured, empty or half-filled grains. Yield loss due to the bug infestation ranges from 10 to 35 per cent. Management of the bug essentially involves spraying with insecticides, for want of safer options. Biological control of rice bug remains hampered by absence of ideal bioagents. The entomopathogenic fungus (EPF), Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) has been reported as infecting rice bug, from several parts of the world, including India. In this context, the present study was undertaken with the objectives of collection, isolation and molecular characterization of local strains of B. bassiana, evaluation against Leptocorisa spp., identification of a cost effective mass production technology for the selected strain of B. bassiana, and formulation of the most effective strain of B. bassiana. Surveys were conducted over two seasons during 2016-17 at major rice growing tracts of Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad districts of Kerala to collect EPF infecting rice bug. However, EPF infected rice bug cadavers were obtained only from one location i.e., Pattambi in Palghat district.As only one isolate was obtained, a potential fungal pathogen earlier obtained from rice bug at Vellanikkara, Thrissur and maintained at AICRP on BCCP was also included in further studies. The above two isolates were identified through study of colony characters as well as through ITS sequencingand Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). The isolate from Vellanikkara was identified as Beauveria bassiana, while the isolate from Pattambi was identified as Choanephora cucurbitarum. The pathogenicity of the two isolates was assessed through laboratory as well as pot culture studies. In the laboratory, B. bassianaisolate recorded more than 90 per cent reduction in population of rice bug nymphs and adults five andseven days after treatment respectively at all concentrations evaluated while C. cucurbitarum recorded only 18 to 53 per cent reduction in bug population. Pot culture studies confirmed the superiority of B. bassianaisolate over C. cucurbitarum with B. bassiana treated pots registering over 99 per cent mortality by 20 th day after treatment as against 27 to 31 per cent mortality in case of the latter.B. bassianaisolate was further evaluated at its most effective concentration, under field conditions in both Thrissur and Palakkad districts.B. bassiana proved to be on par with the insecticide malathion from 10 th day onwards at both locations. The compatibility of B. bassiana isolate with selected insecticides and fungicides was assessed using poisoned food technique. The results showed that the insecticide acephate was the most compatible with 31.29 per cent growth inhibition while the fungicide propiconazole was the least compatible with 85.71 per cent inhibition. Methods for talc based, oil based and aqueous formulations of B. bassianawere standardized.Palm oil was identified as the most suited carrier for oil based formulation through inhibition zone technique as well as through assessment of viability of B. bassiana spores. Glycerol(3%), carboxy methyl cellulose (0.5%) and chitin (5%) formed the best adjuvants for oil based, aqueousand talc based formulations respectively, based on viable cfu count 30 days after storage. All the three formulations were as effective as malathion in reducing rice bug populations in field trials. However, talc formulation was significantly superior to the remaining formulations in terms of yield as well as grain damage. Talc, oil and aqueous formulations had shelf life durations of six, five and four months respectively.
