Y. Lalitha ¹, M. Nagesh ¹, S. K. Jalali ¹

Affiliations
1 National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, P.B. No. 2491, H.A. Farm Post, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024, IN

Abstract

Intraguild predation (IGP) appears to be pervasive among communities of biocontrol agents associated with nematode sharing the host with trophic interaction. Entomopathogenic nematode (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) and its associated bacterium (Photorhabdus luminescens); an egg parasitiod, Trichogramma chilonis and a predator Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi were selected for present study. There was no adverse effect of H. bacteriophora and P. luminescens observed on adult emergence of T. chilonis. Microscopic examination of eggs, larvae and adults of T. chilonis and C. z. sillemi treated with H. bacteriophora, P. luminescens and cell-free culture filtrates of P. luminescens, exhibited no deformity, discoloration or infection of organisms. Similarly, H. bacteriophora, P. luminescens or the cell-free culture filtrates exhibited no adverse activity on egg hatching or larvae of C. z. sillemi indicating that there was no intraguild competition under artificial epiphytotic conditions between the organisms under report, viz., H. bacteriophora, its associated bacterium (P. luminescens), T. chilonis and C. z. sillemi.

Keywords

Intraguild Predation, Entomopathogenic nematode, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Photorhabdus luminescens, Trichogramma chilonis, Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi.

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Y. Lalitha ¹, Chandish R. Ballal ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Insect Ecology, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, Post Box No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India Pin – 560024, IN

Abstract

Corcyra cephalonica is a laboratory host used for multiplication of parasitoids, predators and entomopathogens. The present study is aimed to understand the effect of seasons and inoculum dosages of Corcyra eggs on the production efficiency. Egg production ranged from 3.1 to 5.8 cc per box during the different seasons and minimum production being recorded during dry months. The dosages tested were 0.5, 0.25 and 0.125 cc of Corcyra eggs / rearing box. Maximum per cent moth emergence (83.5%), shorter developmental duration (40.4 days) and higher fecundity (467 no.) of emerged moths were recorded in the boxes with 0.125 cc (2000 eggs) inoculum. Validation of experiments indicated that compared to the boxes with 0.5 cc inoculum, a 2.15, 1.44, 1.35 and 1.49 times increase in average production per box from 0.125cc infested boxes more during monsoon, post monsoon, dry and summer months, respectively. The data generated can be utilized for improving the protocol for mass rearing of Corcyra cephalonica.

Keywords

Corcyra cephalonica, Mass Production, Rearing Boxes.

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T. Venkatesan ¹, J. Poorani ², K. S. Murthy ¹, S. K. Jalali ¹, G. Ashok Kumar ¹, Y. Lalitha ¹, R. Rajeshwari ¹

Affiliations
1 Biological Control, Post Bag No. 2491, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore - 560024, Karnataka, IN
2 Biological Control, Post Bag No. 2491, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore - 560024, Karnataka., IN

Abstract

The Chrysoperla species (carnea-group) widely used in India in augmentative biological control programmes was found to be Chrysoperla zastrowi arabica Henry et al. The acoustic profile of the mating song of this species was analyzed and found to match that of C. zastrowi arabica, the song species characterized earlier as 'Cc5 generator'. The correct taxonomic name for this species remains to be determined as it is morphologically identical to C. sillemi (Esben-Petersen), a species already known from India. Molecular characterization of the species was also done and the DNA sequence of the ITS-2 region was deposited in GenBank (Accession No. DQ 825504, as that of C. sillemi). The implications of this finding are discussed.

Keywords

Chrysopidae, Carnea-group, Chrysoperla zastrowi Arabica, C. sillemi, India, Molecular Characterization, Song Analysis.

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H. Nagaraja ¹, Ankita Gupta ¹, Y. Lalitha ¹, P. Mohanraj ¹, S. K. Jalali ¹

Affiliations
1 Biological Control (ICAR), RB. No. 2491, H.A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore, 560 024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Investigations were carried out on the true identity of the thelytokous species purported to be Trichogramma brasiliensis (Ashmead) (= T. brasiliense), which is used in India in biological control programmes, as the holotype of Ashmead's species is placed under the genus Trichagratnmatoidea Girault at present. Morphological and molecular studies in combination with crossing experiments conclusively proved that this species was con specific with T. pretiosum Riley. Thelytoky in T. brasiliensis auctt. used in India is found to be Wolbachia - induced and reversible by administering antibiotics.

Keywords

Arrhenotoky, PCR, Ihelytoky, Trichogramma brasiliensis, Trichogramma pretiosum, Trichogrammatoidea, Wolbachia.

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G. Ashok Kumar ¹, S. K. Jalali ², T. Venkatesan ¹, M. Nagesh ², Y. Lalitha ³

Affiliations
1 Biological Control, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560024, Karnataka, IN
2 Biological Control, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560024, Karnataka, IN
3 Biological Control, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Bangalore, 560024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

A strain of Trichogramma chilonis Ishii, an effective parasitoid of lepidopteran pests was developed for tolerance to three major groups of insecticides, i. e., endosulfan (organochlorine), monocrotophos (organophosphate) and fenvalerate (synthetic pyrethroid) and to high temperature (32-38°C) through selection. After 81 generations of selection, there was an increase in parasitism from 35% to 90-95% and decrease in mortality from 100% to 57-70% after 6h of constant exposure to three insecticides and high temperature. Interestingly 46.8 and 2.9 fold increase in tolerance was observed in males compared to 18.5 and 1.3 fold increase in females of MITT (multiple-insecticide and temperature tolerant) strain when exposed to endosulfan and fenvalerate sprays, respectively, while in case of monocrotophos, females and males were 465-fold and 25-fold more tolerant, respectively, than susceptible strain. At higher temperatures of 40 and 45°C, the per cent mortality of tolerant adults was 0.0 and 9.2%, respectively, compared to 59.7 and 96.1% in susceptible population after 6h of exposure at these temperatures. At high variable temperature (32-38°C), per cent mortality in MITT was 57.1 compared to 98.5% in susceptible population after 24h of constant exposure. The mean per cent parasitism at 32°C, 36°C, 38°C and at variable temperature of 32-38°C was significantly higher in tolerant strain (46.7, 45.0, 18.3 and 63.3%) compared to susceptible strain (54.0, 6.7, 0.0 and 0.0%), respectively. These studies suggest that the improved strain of T. chilonis will provide effective control of the pest even at harsh climatic conditions and under high insecticide pressure in different economically important crops.

Keywords

Egg Parasitoid, Genetic Improvement, High Temperature Tolerance, Multiple Insecticide Tolerance, Trichogramma chilonis.

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S. K. Jalali ¹, K. S. Murthy ¹, T. Venkatesan ¹, Y. Lalitha ¹, P. S. Devi ¹

Affiliations
1 Project Directorate on Biological Control (ICAR), P. B . No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560 024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Preliminary investigations were conducted in laboratory cages to test the efficiency of a novel release technique for egg parasitoid Trichogramma species and this was compared with the traditional techniques. The efficiency of the techniques was determined based on time taken for release, adult emergence and percentage egg parasitism. Mixing of eggs with carriers like talc (1:1 ratio) and agar solution (0.1%) recorded least time for application. Spraying of loose parasitised eggs mixed with agar solution was considered as the best treatment amongst the treatments where aqueous solutions were used as carriers. In treatments where loose parasitised eggs were mixed with various solid and aqueous carriers, per cent emergence was low ranging from 40.5 to 57.1% compared to 95.0 to 100.0% in release of adults, Tricho bit, Tricho capsules and loose eggs without any carrier. The lowest emergence was recorded when loose parasitised eggs were mixed with talc. Adult release, sprinkling of loose parasitised eggs mixed with vermiculite and semolina gave significantly higher parasitism compared to the other techniques of release. The results indicated that release of Trichogramma can also be tried by mixing with a spray solution (for eg. agar solution) with modification of sprayer nozzle or with solid carriers (for eg. vermiculite). Such techniques will be better understood by stakeholders and is expected to increase uptake of this important biological control agent.

Keywords

Carriers, Emergence, Parasitism, Release Method, Trichogramma.

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K. I. Singh ¹, S. K. Jalali ², R. J. Rabindra ², N. S. Rao ², Y. Lalitha ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, lmphul 795 004, Manipur, IN
2 Project Directorate of Biological Control (lCAR), Post Bag no. 2491, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore 560 024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

The optimum release dosage of Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja and its comparative efficacy alone and in combination with dichlorvos against diamondback moth (DBl\1), Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) on cabbage was worked out. Results of the study on the percentage parasitization under different host-parasitoid ratios revealed that the maximum DBM egg parasitization (83.0%) was recorded in the ratio 100 (eggs): 5 (females), which was on par with other higher ratios of 100:10 to 100:20. The release of T. bactrae twice (2 and 5 days after DBM moth release) proved as the most effective treatment in significantly reducing the larval population (4.89 larvae per plant) in comparison to two sprays of dichlorvos (0.05%) (14.54 larvae per plant). The results indicated the efficacy of T. bactrae in suppressing DBM on cabbage and calls for further evaluation in field trials.

Keywords

Cabbage, Dichlorvos, Efficacy, Plutella xylostella, Trichogrammatoidea bactrae.

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S. K. Jalali ¹, S. Sriram ², T. Venkatesan ¹, R. P. More ¹, Omprakash Navik ¹, Y. Lalitha ¹, Rakshit Ojha ¹

Affiliations
1 ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Post Bag No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary Road, Hebbal, Bangalore – 24, Karnataka, IN
2 ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bangalore – 89, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

Host-insect and host-plant associated differentiation of genetically divergent microbiota were recorded from economically important egg parasitoid collected from 26 locations in India, Trichogramma chilonis constituted 86.8% of the populations collected. It was recorded from 14 host-insects, 14 different crops and weed plants from 12 states. Nine species of yeast were recorded from parasitoid from 5 host-insects with Wickerhamomyces anamalus was isolated from 36.4% samples and highest numbers were recorded from parasitoid collected on sugarcane. Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas sp. and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia from T. chilonis constitute 64.3% of bacterial diversity based on their 16S rDNA sequences. For taxonomic identification using 16s rDNA and ITS sequences, we performed taxonomic classification of total 33 ITS isolates against UNITE Fungal ITS database and assigned taxonomy hierarchy to the sequences. Also, a total of 13 isolates 16s rDNA sequences were taxonomically assigned against RDP 16s rDNA database using RDP Naive Bayesian rRNA Classifier Version 2.1. Most of the species are correctly identified in the respective species members with high confidence threshold value support.

Keywords

Egg Parasitoid, Evolutionary Relationship, Host-Insects, Host-Plants, Microbiota.

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Omprakash Navik ¹, S. K. Jalali ¹, Y. Lalitha ¹

Affiliations
1 Division of Germplasm Collection and Characterization, ICAR–National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Hebbal, Bengaluru - 560024, Karnataka, IN

Abstract

The present study was conducted to collect and identify the species of trichogrammatids from eggs of lepidopteran pests infesting the diverse cropping systems in the country. A total of 28 plant species were inspected for the collection of lepidopteran eggs either through collection of insect eggs or by placing sentinel egg cards. The species such as Trichogramma chilonis Ishii, T. achaeae Nagaraja and Nagarkatti, T. danausicida Nagaraja, Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja and Tr. armigera Manjunath were recorded naturally occurring with 12 species of lepidopteran insect pests. In nature, the parasitism rate varied from 5.35 to 82.25% by the associated trichogrammatids. A total of 596 sentinel trap cards were placed in the agricultural, vegetables, fruits crops, and grasses on the bunds of fields to trap the egg parasitoids present in the different habitat. Through sentinel cards, three species, viz., T. chilonis, T. achaeae and Tr. bactrae were found inhabit the vegetables and ornamental crops. The percentage of adult emergence from the sentinel trap cards ranged from 70.59 to 100.0%. Natural parasitism of Tr. bactrae recorded for the first time on the eggs of Lampides boeticus L. infesting wild species of Crotalaria. In addition, the natural parasitism of Tr. armigera and Tr. bactrae on the eggs of L. boeticus laid on either cultivated or wild relatives of Crotalaria in undisturbed habitat had higher natural parasitism due to their bright yellow flower attracts parasitoids to parasitize the eggs and conserve these egg parasitoids. Recently, natural parasitism of Trichogramma sp. was recorded on invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) infesting maize in Karnataka. Based on the present work, there could be choice of selecting right species which occur naturally on individual crops.

Keywords

Biological Control, Collection, Cropping System, Egg Parasitoid, Identification.

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