Journal of Biological Control

75-80

Authors: Srimoyee Basu, K. Chandra, T. Venkatesan

In the present study, a total of eight species of aquatic and semi-aquatic Hemiptera collected from India were identified based on morphology and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene I (COI). Details of morphology based identification and the utility of COI gene to identify the aquatic Hemiptera is discussed in this paper.

87-94

Authors: Urvi Sharma, Ajai Srivastava, Chitra Shanker

Systematic observations as carried out in selected experimental plots and farmers field at CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvidyalaya, Rice and Wheat Research Centre, Malan (HP) during kharif 2015 and 2016, revealed that the rice hispa (adults) started infesting the paddy crop early in the season at 26th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) and it continued till the crop matures (40-44th SMW). The grub incidence was reported from 28-39th SMW. Simultaneously, random samples of mined leaves were collected from the surveyed plots, brought to the laboratory, examined for field parasitism symptoms, maintained and reared for further investigations, recovered the association of hispa grubs or pupae with a gregarious parasitoid, which was identified as Chrysonotomyia sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Entedoninae). Also, the maximum parasitization rates for this vary species of parasitoid were recorded during 34-39th SMW, with the mean parasitization of 46.0 and 39.3 percent during kharif 2015 and 2016, respectively. The natural parasitization of grubs or pupae of rice hispa by Chrysonotomyia sp. was reported for the first time from the state and it thus could be exploited as an important biological tool under the sustainable approach for its integrated management.

103-107

Authors: S. Preetha, M. Kannan, S. Lokesh, V. Gowtham

Botanical biopesticides are alternative to hazardous synthetic insecticides. In the present study neem oil based nanoemulsion was synthesized using neem oil and tween 80. The particle size was estimated as 159.2 nm. The emulsion was characterized using particle size analyzer and TEM to confirm the formation of nano emulsion of neem oil. Trichogramma chilonis (Ishii) is an effective egg parasitoid of lepidopterous pests. It controls pests in eggs stage prior to its damaging to crops. The parasitoid is vulnerable to insecticides or oil sprays applied to the crops. The present study revealed the effects of neem nanoemulsion with T. chilonis under the controlled laboratory conditions. Different concentrations i.e., 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000 ppm were tested on T. chilonis. The biological effects viz., per cent parasitism, adult emergence were found significantly reduced and increased mortality in all the concentrations of macroemulsion of neem oil (66.78 ± 0.50, 71.69± 1.02; 48.45 ± 0.35, 52.26 ± 0.60; 31.75 ± 0.35, 26.00 ± 0.39 in 10000 and 5000 ppm, respectively) as compared with nanoemulsion (75.40 ± 0.03, 78.26 ± 0.29; 52.50 ± 0.52, 57.85 ± 0.60; 19.57 ± 0.27, 16.25 ± 0.25 in 10000 and 5000 ppm, respectively and control (88.00 ± 0.12; 82.00 ± 1.26; 2.25 ± 0.02, respectively). These studies showed that the 10000 and 5000 ppm concentrations of nanoemulsion of neem oil were found less toxic to T. chilonis.

116-120

Authors: K. S. Sangha, P. S. Shera, Sudhendu Sharma, Rabinder Kaur

On farm impact of Trichogrammatids was studied against lepidopteran pests, i.e., yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) and leaf folder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenee) in organic basmati rice (var. Pusa 1121) over an area of 20 and 60 hectares during 2014 and 2015, respectively. Six augmentative releases of Trichogramma chilonis and T. japonicum each @ 1,00,000 parasitoids/ha were made starting from 30 days after transplanting (DAT) and was compared with untreated control. Based on the overall mean, the biocontrol treatment (1.74% DH) was significantly effective in reducing the dead heart incidence as compared to untreated control (4.52% DH). The reduction in dead hearts was 61.50 per cent in biocontrol over untreated control. The mean incidence of white ears was also significantly lower in biocontrol field (2.05%) as against untreated control (4.89%) resulting in a reduction of 58.08 per cent. Similarly, leaf folder damage in biocontrol (2.04% LFDL) resulted in 62.50 per cent reduction over untreated control (5.44% LFDL). Grain yield in biocontrol fields (29.81 q/ha) was 18.76 per cent more than the untreated control (25.10 q/ha). The increase in yield due to control of stem borers and leaf folder in biocontrol fields resulted in an additional benefit of INR 16332/- and INR 9818/- during 2014 and 2015, respectively. Conclusively, 6 releases of T. chilonis and T. japonicum each @ 1,00,000/ha resulted in lower incidence of rice insect pests and higher grain yield in organic basmati rice with an additional benefit over untreated control.

128-136

Authors: Isaac L. Mathew, Deepak Singh, C. P. M. Tripathi

The combined effect of microbial pesticide, Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner (Bt), and insect parasitoid, Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was evaluated for the management of rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). This parasitoid is very useful in testing host-parasitoid interaction due to its high fecundity and short generation time. The host location and acceptance by parasitoid female, investigated by choice and no choice tests, showed marked preference towards later host instar larvae of C. cephalonica. Parasitoid induced mortality of Bt-intoxicated and Bt- reared host larvae was also investigated. C. cephalonica mortality was highest (72.00 ± 3.26%) and synergistic when host larvae were exposed to acute Bt treatment in conjunction with the parasitoid. A combined treatment of Bt with H. hebetor is an effective strategy in integrated pest control programmes of C. cephalonica and other stored grain pests.

142-144

Authors: B. M. Parasharya, Raju V. Vyas, Darshana M. Rathod, V. M. Mistry

The widow spiders, of the genus Latrodectus are amongst the best known spiders on the earth, all members of this genus are considered venomous and largest amongst the comb-footed spiders. In India, four species are recorded from the genus, including Latrodectus hasselti. The species L. hasselti is considered to be a rare species and this species was recorded from most parts of Gujarat State. As this spider has medical significance due to its neurotoxins reporting of its habitat occupancy and geographic location becomes important for taking up any mitigation action in future. Recently the species was seen in ten different localities of South Gujarat. Out of ten records, two are from forest area, two from wasteland, four from residential area, one from agricultural land and one from grassland. The earlier published records and present records of the species show that this species is very widely distributed in entire Gujarat State, within various types of habitats from dry-arid to moist forests and grassland to agricultural land and further within human habitats, too.