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J. Poorani ¹, S. K. Rajeshwari ¹, Ankita Gupta ¹

Affiliations
1 National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Post Bag No. 2491, H.A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Aenasius bambawalei Hayat (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), is a specific, solitary endoparasitoid ofPhenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, a major invasive pest on cotton in all the cotton growing states in India. This paper provides a short diagnostic description of A. bambawalei with illustrations to facilitate easy identification and notes on the biology of A. bambawalei on P. solenopsis in the laboratory. The mean duration of development of A. bambawalei from egg laying to pupation was 8.85±0.21 days and pupation to adult emergence took 7.35±0.15 days in males and 7.00±0.16 in females. The mean total duration of development of A. bambawalei from egg laying to adult emergence was 16.10±0.25 days (range 14-18 days). The adults survived for 2-4 days on water, but the mean longevity was considerably enhanced on 50% honey (70.95±2.30 days in females and 49.00±2.35 days in males). Unmated females produced 100% male progeny. Four hyperparasitoids of A. bambawalei were recorded on field collected samples namely, Prochiloneurus pulchellus Silvestri, P. albifuniculus (Hayat et al.), and P. aegyptiacus (Mercet) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Promuscidea unfasciativentris Girault (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae).

Keywords

Aenasius bambawalei, Phenacoccus solenopsis, Diagnosis, Biology, Hyperparasitoids.

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B. S. Bhumannavar ¹, S. Ramani ¹, S. K. Rajeshwari ¹

Affiliations
1 Project Directorate of Biological Control, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Hebbal, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560 024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Field release of the gall fly, Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae) introduced from Indonesia into India in 2002 was made on naturally growing C. odorata (L.) King and Robinson at two locations in Bangalore during July-October, 2005 using different field release methods. Following establishment, the gall fly was observed lo spread to a distance of one kilometer at GKVK and two kilometer at Tataguni village in northeastern direction by the end of second year after release. The gall numbers encountered by an individual in ten minutes, search steadily increased from 2.5 to 98.3 at GKVK and from 1.6 to 156 at Tataguni village. There was 11.61 and 16.72 per cent reduction in plant height. 30 and 60 days after oviposition in galled plants over control. There was significant reduction in number of branches per plant (35.62%), number of panicles per plant (45.43%), number of capitula per panicle (12.07%) and number of seeds per head (10.89%) in galled plants over control in individual oviposition method. In mass cage method, 40.84, 36.48 and 55.42 per cent reduction in plant height, 30, 60 and 120 days after oviposition in galled plants over control was recorded. There was significant reduction in number of branches per plant (65.56%), number of panicles per plant (48.44%) and number of capitula per panicle (58.98%) in galled plants over control.

Keywords

Cecidochares connexa, Chromolaena odorata, Establishment, Field Release, Impact.

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B. S. Bhumannavar ¹, S. Ramani ¹, S. K. Rajeshwari ¹, B. K. Chaubey ¹

Affiliations
1 Project Directorate of Biological Control (ICAR), Post Bag no. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Hebbal, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Chromolaena odorata (Linnaeus) King and Robinson is a native or tropical America and has become a serious invasive weed in the wet/dry tropics of Western India. Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) (Diptera:Tephritidae) was introduced from Indonesia into India in 2002 for the biological suppression or the weed. A pure culture of the tephritid was established on C. odorata and the biology studied. Eggs were laid inside unopened new leaf buds. The egg incubation period was 5.65±0.67 days. The gall was visible 15 days after oviposition and in 43.95±4.7 days, formation of windows could be seen indicating complete larval development. One to eight larvae were found in each gall. The total developmental period from egg to adult was 64.85±5.12 days. The adults emerged through the windows and peak emergence (70.4%) was at 1000 hours. Adults were active from 0800 to 1400 hours and mated on the day of emergence. Each female on an average laid 81.12±34.03 eggs and the oviposition period varied from 7 to 12 days. Host'specificity tests carried out under quarantine conditions on 7S host plant species belonging to 29 families revealed that the gall fly is capable of feeding and reproducing only on C. odorata.

Keywords

Biology, Cecidochares collnexa, Chromolaena odorata, Host-Specificity Tests.

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Ankita Gupta ¹, K. Selvaraj ¹, Nigel Wyatt ², S. K. Rajeshwari ¹, C. R. Ballal ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bengaluru – 560 024, Karnataka, IN
2 Department of Life Sciences, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, GB

Abstract

First ever record of family Xenasteiidae (Diptera: Brachycera: Cyclorrhapha) from mainland India is provided. Most of the previous records of this family are from coastal sites, as they have usually been found on islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. For the first time biology and life stages of Xenasteia are illustrated. Xenasteia members were found associated with an exotic rugose spiraling whitefly (RSW) colony of Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in the coastal areas of Karnataka in southern India, however no direct obligate association could be diagnosed. Also for the first time Anagyrus sp. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) was recorded from the genus Xenasteia as its solitary parasitoid. Worldwide, this is the first ever report of parasitism associated with any member of this little-known family Xenasteiidae.

Keywords

India, New Record, Xenasteiidae.

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