Informatics Publishing Limited

Desh Deepak Chaudhary ¹, Bhupendra Kumar ¹, Geetanjali Mishra ¹, Omkar ¹

Affiliations
1 Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, IN

Abstract

In the present study, preference between larger and smaller instars of Acyrthosiphon pisum and Aphis craccivora by small and large female variants of ladybirds Menochilus sexmaculatus and Propylea dissecta has been investigated. Results reveal that both ladybird species consumed smaller prey, A. craccivora over larger prey, A. pisum when kept individually and/or in combination. Although small and large female variants of both ladybird species consumed smaller and larger instars of A. craccivora respectively, they preferred smaller instars of A. pisum. Similar results were also recorded within combinations. Thus, food resource exploitation in both ladybirds is due to both prey species and size.

Keywords

Aphids, Food Resource Exploitation, Ladybirds, Prey Species and Size Resource Polymorphism.

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Suresh Kumar Ghritlahare ¹, Trilochan Satapathy ¹, Prasanna Kumar Panda ², Geetanjali Mishra ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Pharmacology, Columbia Institute of Pharmacy, Tekari, Near Vidhan Sabha, Raipur -493111 Dist-Raipur (C.G.), IN
2 University Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utkal University, Vanivihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha-751004, IN
3 School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Berhampur University, Odisha-760007, IN

Abstract

Medicinal plants have played an important role throughout the world in treating and preventing human diseases, commiphora wightii is an important medicinal plant of herbal heritage of India. Guggul is obtained from commiphora mukul which belong to the Family, Burseraceae . C. mukul occurs in north east Africa, Somali and southern Arabia , in India it is found in Gujrat, Mysore , Bengal, M. Pradesh , Desert of Rajastasthan a list of few Commiphora species C. Mukul, C. Myrrh , C. Stocksiana Engl, C. Caudate Engl. etc, Guggul tree is small ,1.2-1.8 m high. Each plant yield about one kilogram of the product which is collected in cold Season, isolation of guggul sterons , extract with EtOAC yield soluble fraction and insoluble fraction, soluble fraction consist of 45% gum resin while 55% insoluble fraction contains carbohydrate, there is no any therapeutic property reported. Guggul lipid has active ingredients like Ketosteroids cis and trans is also known as sterones. guggulsterone-I, II, III, IV, V, VI, myrcene, dimyrcene, bioactive compounds in extract of mukul reported are dimyrcene, 15 α- camphorene. 16 linoleic, oleic, stearic, palmitic acid, sitosterol etc. It is therapeutically used in obesity hyperlipidaemia, arthritis, coronary thrombosis, cardiac disorders, diabetes, tumours, thyroid disorders, hepatic obstructions and weakness pharyngitis etc. Marketed formulation of Guggul triphala Guggul, Yougaraja Guggul, kaishora gugguln, Navaka guggul etc.

Keywords

Commiphora Mukul, Chemistry, Guggul Lipid, Therapeutic Uses.

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Shashwat Singh ¹, Geetanjali Mishra ¹, Omkar ¹

Affiliations
1 Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, IN

Abstract

Egg consumption is common among insects, including ladybirds. The consumed eggs may be conspecific or heterospecific. Egg consumption eliminates potential competitors and provides additional nutrients for development and reproduction. In ladybirds, the incidence of cannibalism and intraguild predation has been proven as alternative tactics for the sustenance of life under prey-scarce condition. The consumption of conspecific eggs is known as cannibalism. Thus, in this study we have evaluated the effect of diets, viz. conspecific and heterospecific eggs along with aphids on egg consumption, developmental and reproductive attributes of a ladybird beetle, Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). We found that all the immature stages and adults prefer and consumed more conspecific eggs than heterospecific eggs possibly owing to low toxicity. Fourth instars and adult females consumed higher number of conspecific (82.15 ±4.94 and 85.04 ±0.05 respectively) and heterospecific eggs (56.61 ±0.44 and 60 ±0.48 respectively) than other life stages. Further the life stages developed faster on aphids followed by conspecific and heterospecific eggs. Besides aphids, overall maximum number of eggs was laid on conspecific eggs (84.00 ±1.92) followed by heterospecific eggs (67.70 ± 1.07). However, reverse trend was observed for per cent egg viability. Thus, with scarcity of primary prey (aphid), ladybirds consume and reproduce on conspecific/heterospecific eggs as alternative diets.

Keywords

Aphidophagy, Egg Consumption, Ladybirds, Oophagy.

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Arshi Siddiqui ¹, Omkar ¹, Geetanjali Mishra ¹

Affiliations
1 Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, IN

Abstract

Transgenerational effect on developmental attributes of insects has been studied extensively. The present study elucidates the role of diet on transgenerational developmental duration and reproductive attributes of Propylea dissecta (Mulsant). We have found a significant direct and transgenerational role of diet variations in feeding rhythms on the above attributes of P. dissecta. Dampened response was found in offspring fed on intermittent diet even when their parental generation was provided abundant food supply. Reduced reproductive attributes were found in the progeny of abundant diet parents reared on intermittent diet than the kin of the same abundant fed parents which were under other diet conditions.

Keywords

Feeding Behaviour, Ladybirds, Pea Aphid, Stress, Transgenerational Effect.

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Priya Singh ¹, Geetanjali Mishra ¹, Omkar ¹

Affiliations
1 Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, IN

Abstract

Food supply at each life stage is of prime importance that determines the organism’s fitness and also influences individual’s reproductive performance and development. In this contest, we assessed the interactive effect of both larval and adult food regimes in Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) individuals. For this, egg batches were randomly selected and hatched larvae (larval diet) were reared into two food regimes, abundant (A) and scarce (S) till pupation. Post-emergence (adult stage) the ladybird beetles of each food regime were divided into two groups, abundant and scarce and at the age of 10 days adults were paired in all possible combinations. The results showed that individuals that were reared on abundant food mated for longer and showed higher reproductive output than other individuals. The adults provided with scarce and abundant food regime both irrespective of life stages showed similar mating durations and reproductive output. Food supply at larval and adult stages in both sexes plays important role in determining the reproductive success.

Keywords

Fecundity, Food Supply, Ladybird, Reproduction, Viability.

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Swati Saxena ¹, Geetanjali Mishra ¹, Omkar ¹

Affiliations
1 Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, India, IN

Abstract

In holometabolous insects, adult develops through larval and pupal stages. Limb regeneration has an impact on different life traits of organisms. In the present study, we found that limb regeneration of two ladybird species of different body size affected their life attributes. The fourth instar of Propylea dissecta and ladybird Cocci­nella septempunctata were taken from laboratory stock and ablated. Larvae were observed until adult emergence. Emerged adults were kept in different mating treatments. Unregenerated adults of ladybirds took more time to commence mating with shorter copulation and reduced fecundity and per cent viability. Thus, it can be concluded that regeneration ability modulates life attributes of ladybirds, irrespective of body size

Keywords

Body size, fecundity, ladybirds, limb regeneration, reproductive attributes.

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Geetanjali Mishra ¹

Affiliations
1 Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, Uttar Pradesh,, IN

Abstract

Sexual selection is an evolutionary process, that increases the direct and indirect fitness of an organism by non random preference of mates, based on their differential ability. Sexual selection may be in the form of intrasexual selection and intersexual selection. The former involves competition between the males (usually), while females are passive acceptors of winners as mates. The latter involves display of abilities by the males (usually), while the female inspects and assesses them prior to selection of mate. Traditionally both these mechanisms are believed to take place prior to copulation. However, studies indicate that these also take place, post copulation. The post copulatory displays of sexual selection involve sperm competition and cryptic female choice. Not only are all these displays fascinating, understanding their evolution and their ecological modulations make this field an interesting one. This review deals with these aspects of sexual selection in insects, as they encase some of the most diverse mechanisms of sexual selection.

Keywords

Intrasexual selection, intersexual selection, sperm competition, cryptic female choice, direct and indirect fitness, sperm precedence

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Chandni Verma ¹, Geetanjali Mishra ¹, Omkar ¹

Affiliations
1 Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226 007, IN

Abstract

In this study, we examined the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers and mtDNA markers for their use in the prospecting of 480 ladybird species belonging to 14 tribes to assess the evolutionary topology and substitution rates. Substitution patterns of the respective markers were estimated using a cascade of algorithms such as pairwise sequence comparisons, maximum likelihood estimates of the substitution matrix, transitions/transversions (ti/tv) and gamma parameters with a suitable substitution model. Maximum likelihood (ML) estimates showed that COI (R = 1.16) and COII (R = 1.36) were more biased towards transitions. COI has a higher ti/tv ratio indicating more substitutions and less divergence among the species in the phylogenetic tree, though it had moderate bootstrap support. ML and Bayesian analysis were used to construct the morphology character matrix and molecular datasets in order to establish the evolutionary relationship. All the characters of male and female genitalia supported mophyletic topology. The phylogenetic results of molecular datasets suggest that most of the taxa significantly support monophyly. Phylogenetic analysis depict COI consists of more substitution as it shows less divergence among species.

Keywords

Evolutionary Topology, Ladybirds, Molecular Markers, Phylogenetic Analysis, Substitution Rates.

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