Journal of Environment and Sociobiology

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Biology and Feeding Efficacy of Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) (Coccinellidae:Coleoptera), a Native Predator of Whitefly, Aleuroclava pentatuberculata (Sundarraj and David), a Mulberry Pest:In Search of an Effective Biocontrol Agent for Sericulture in West Bengal


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1 Department of Zoology, Rammohan College, Kolkata-700009, India
     

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In West Bengal Aleuroclava pentatuberculata (Sundarraj and David), a whitefly, is a pest causing extensive damage to the mulberry plant. General leaf yield losses of this plant were estimated as 24%, but in severe cases, leaves become unfit for silkworm rearing resulting in huge crop losses. The feeding habit of whitefly, Aleuroclava pentatuberculata (Homoptera: Aleryrodidae) causes depletion in qualitative and quantitative parameters of mulberry leaves. Protection of silkworm and its host plants from various kinds of pests, parasites and predators is a chronic problem in sericulture. Biological control is one of the most effective means of achieving insect control. While screening the whitefly infested mulberry leaves, a native predator, Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) was found to feed on eggs and nymphal stages of whitefly. Complexities in the behaviour and life cycle of the natural predator population warrant a special attention for their use as effective biological control agents in modern sericulture. In this present investigation, feeding potential of the predator and its larval stages was studied. The data generated on the feeding efficacy are used in determining the life cycle stage of the predators which is most effective to keep the pest under control. The above study provides basic information about the lifecycle, feeding habits of the male and female adults of Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) which suggests that it is a potent predator of the mulberry pest. Further mass multiplication and field efficacy studies need to be undertaken in order to use Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) as a biocontrol agent in sericulture in future.

Keywords

Brumoides suturalis, Feeding Efficacy, Whitefly, Biological Control.
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  • Biology and Feeding Efficacy of Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) (Coccinellidae:Coleoptera), a Native Predator of Whitefly, Aleuroclava pentatuberculata (Sundarraj and David), a Mulberry Pest:In Search of an Effective Biocontrol Agent for Sericulture in West Bengal

Abstract Views: 425  |  PDF Views: 1

Authors

Santi Ranjan Dey
Department of Zoology, Rammohan College, Kolkata-700009, India

Abstract


In West Bengal Aleuroclava pentatuberculata (Sundarraj and David), a whitefly, is a pest causing extensive damage to the mulberry plant. General leaf yield losses of this plant were estimated as 24%, but in severe cases, leaves become unfit for silkworm rearing resulting in huge crop losses. The feeding habit of whitefly, Aleuroclava pentatuberculata (Homoptera: Aleryrodidae) causes depletion in qualitative and quantitative parameters of mulberry leaves. Protection of silkworm and its host plants from various kinds of pests, parasites and predators is a chronic problem in sericulture. Biological control is one of the most effective means of achieving insect control. While screening the whitefly infested mulberry leaves, a native predator, Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) was found to feed on eggs and nymphal stages of whitefly. Complexities in the behaviour and life cycle of the natural predator population warrant a special attention for their use as effective biological control agents in modern sericulture. In this present investigation, feeding potential of the predator and its larval stages was studied. The data generated on the feeding efficacy are used in determining the life cycle stage of the predators which is most effective to keep the pest under control. The above study provides basic information about the lifecycle, feeding habits of the male and female adults of Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) which suggests that it is a potent predator of the mulberry pest. Further mass multiplication and field efficacy studies need to be undertaken in order to use Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius) as a biocontrol agent in sericulture in future.

Keywords


Brumoides suturalis, Feeding Efficacy, Whitefly, Biological Control.

References