TY  - BOOK
AU  - Akshaja Suresh
AU  - Prathapan, K D (Guide)
TI  - Identity, morphology and natural history of lema species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae) infesting orchids (Asparagales: Orchidaceae) in India
U1  - 632.6 
PY  - 2021///
CY  - Vellayani
PB  - Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture 
KW  -  Agricultural Entomology
KW  - Lema species
KW  - Orchids
N1  - M Sc
N2  - The present study entitled “Identity, morphology and natural history of Lema species
(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae) infesting orchids (Asparagales: 
Orchidaceae) in India” was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani from 
2019-2021 to ascertain identity of the Lema species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: 
Criocerinae) infesting orchids in India and describe them; and study the immature 
stages as well as lifecycle of Lema sp. infesting orchids in south India. 
The orchids in north-east India are attacked by Lema pectoralis unicolor
Clark, distributed in China and the Indo-Malayan subregion. The Lema beetles 
attacking orchids in south India (Kumari and Lyla, 2001) and the Andaman and 
Nicobar Islands (Baskaran et al., 2016; Bharathimeena, 2016) belongs to a new 
species, here named as L. vimala n. sp. This is the first report of L. pectoralis unicolor
in India. The beetles infesting south Indian orchids were collected from different 
orchid farms in Thiruvanathapuram. It was reared under laboratory conditions and the 
life cycle was studied in detail. The external morphology of Lema pectoralis unicolor
and Lema vimala n. sp. was studied, illustrated and descriptions were prepared. The 
male and female genitalia of both the species were dissected, studied and 
photographed. Endophallus of L. vimala n. sp. was fully everted and the endophallic 
sclerites were studied and illustrated. Illustrations and descriptions of egg, and final 
instar larvae as well as pupa were prepared. The duration of life cycle ranged from 19 
to 24 days, with egg period of 2 to 5 days, larval period of 5 to 9 days and pupal 
period of 10 to 14 days. The adults lived for 68 to 170 days. Other biological 
observations such as feeding and breeding behavior were also recorded. Eggs were 
found only on flowers and the grubs fed only on flowers while the adults fed on 
flowers, epiphytic roots and leaves. The grubs carry fecal shield on their back. Egg 
cannibalism by first instar grubs was recorded. Adults perform thanatosis. Pediobius
sp. on eggs, Tetrastichus sp. nr julis on larva, and an unidentified Ichneumonidae on 
pupa were the parasitoids recorded on L. vimala n. sp
ER  -