1. KAUTIR (Kerala Agricultural University Theses Information and Retrieval)

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    Shining leaf beetles of south India (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Criocerinae)
    (Department of Entomology ,College of Agriculture ,Vellayani, 2025-10-08) Akshaja Suresh; Prathapan, K D
    The study entitled ‘Shining leaf beetles of south India (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Criocerinae)’ was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani from March 2022 to March 2025, with the major objectives of collection and documentation of shining leaf beetles and the associated ecological data; preparation of descriptions and illustrations including that of genitalia; and provide an illustrated key to south Indian species of Criocerinae. The study area comprised the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Goa. One thousand four hundred and fourteen specimens belonging to 42 species in four genera were studied. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of the dorsal, ventral and lateral habiti, frontal view of head, male and female genitalia including everted internal sac of aedeagus or endophallic sclerites are provided. Measurements and pertinent ratios were worked out. An illustrated key to four genera and 41 species of south Indian Criocerinae and a checklist are provided. Detailed morphological descriptions, measurements and photographs of the genitalia of south Indian Criocerinae are given for the first time. Prior to this study, host plant information was available for all the five Indian genera of criocerines; however, at the species level, the same was known for only 14 (11.80%). The present study has added host plants of 13 species of criocerines. These include Crioceris fasciatipennis Jacoby and Lilioceris sp.1 on Smilax zeylanicus L. (Smilacaceae), Lema constrictofasciata Jacoby, Lema fulvula Lacordaire, Lema horni Weise, Lema maindroni Jacoby, Lema nilgiriensis Jacoby, Lema paradoxa Jacoby, Lema signatipennis Jacoby on Commelinaceae, Lema quadripunctata (Olivier) on Costus speciosus (Koenig) (Costaceae), Lema yerburyi Jacoby on Orchidaceae, Lema palpalis Lacordaire, and Lilioceris sp. 2 on Dioscorea sp. (Dioscoreaceae). The study has added three new country records including L. cribricollis Weise, L. westwoodi Jacoby and L. horni Weise from Kerala and 6 new records for south India, including L. cardoni Jacoby, L. constrictofasciata Jacoby, L. flavimana Jacoby,L. suturella Baly, L. jansoni Baly and Oulema downesi (Baly). A research article on the redescription of the economically important pest species Lema yerburyi Jacoby infesting orchids in south India and its biology was published from this study. Its developmental period from egg to adult ranged from 19 to 24 days, with an egg period of 2–5 days, larval period of 5–9 days and pupal period of 10–14 days. The adults lived for 68– 187 days. The host plant of Lema quadripunctata is Costus speciosus (Koenig) (Costaceae). Eggs were laid on tender leaves near the whorls of the pseudostem and the hatching larvae bored into the stem and fed from within, creating tunnels and destroying the growing apical region. Pupation took place in soil. Adults fed on unfurled leaves, making characteristic incisions on the lamina. Field collected beetles lived for 148–156 days in captivity. One hundred and nineteen criocerines are listed for India and 55 for south India. Of the 55 known south Indian species, 37 were recovered in this study. Lema sp. 1, Lema sp. 2, Lilioceris sp. 1 and Lilioceris sp. 2 are putative new species.
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    Natural history of the curry leaf tortoise beetle Silana farinosa (Boheman, 1856) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae, Cassidini) in Kerala
    (Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture , Vellayani, 2024-04-06) Sneha, M Sabu.; Prathapan, K D
    The study entitled “Natural history of the curry leaf tortoise beetle Silana farinosa (Boheman, 1856) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae, Cassidini) in Kerala” was carried out at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2022-2023. The main objectives were to study the external morphology, genitalia, immature stages, life history, seasonality and natural enemies of the curry leaf tortoise beetle Silana farinosa. The curry leaf tortoise beetle, S. farinosa is a major defoliating pest of Bergera koenigii (L.) (= Murraya koenigii (L.) Spreng.) (Sapindales, Rutaceae). Originally described from Sri Lanka, Premila et al. (2003) reported its occurrence in India from Kerala. External morphology of all life stages of the pest were studied, illustrated and detailed descriptions were prepared using light microscopy as well as scanning electron microscopy. A laboratory culture was established and the life history, behaviour, nature and intensity of damage, seasonality and natural enemies were studied. Adults are 6.39–7.85 mm long and can be separated from other Cassidini by the second antennomere subequal to third; pronotum with explanate margin separated from disc by a deep, longitudinal groove on either side; pronotum basally with a shallow transverse depression in front of scutellum; pronotum and elytra with short setae, especially towards lateral sides; and the dorsum of adult in life is covered with white, powdery, waxy coating. Other salient characters of the species include aedeagus in ventral view with broadly truncate apex; spermatheca is long, hookshaped; fully everted endophallus has several lobes and a long sclerite apically. Genitalia in S. farinosa has been studied and illustrated for the first time. Sexual dimorphism in S. farinosa was observed for the first time. The last female ventrite has curved, minute ridges and a window, visible in macerated specimens. Final instar larvae measured 4.26–7.24 mm long and 1.42–2.8 mm wide. Stemmata 6; four in a curved line, equidistant; 5, 6 ventral. Mandible palmate with 6 sharp denticles. Pronotum pigmented, overlapping head, margin with three pairs of scoli, two anterolateral, fused basally, one posterolateral. Mesonotum with three pairs of lateral scoli – one anterolateral, one medio-lateral and one posteriolateral, mediolateral being shortest. Spiracle uniforus, rounded, raised, white on black socket. Pronotum with short, seta bearing, dark, raised randomly distributed pinnacles. Metanotum with two pairs of scoli, anterior pair shorter than posterior. Abdomen 10 segmented, 1 – 8 with a pair of scoli laterally. Segments 9, 10 without scoli. Tergum 8 modified with a pair of long caudal processes, reaching beyond apex of anal tube. First instar 2.24 – 2.69 mm long, 0.76 – 0.78 mm wide. Spiracles 8, elevated, annular biforous. Body with 16 pairs of lateral scoli, and a pair of supraanal processes. All scoli unbranched, tapering towards apex, armed apically with a seta longer than half length of scolus. Pupa 6.66 – 7.03 mm long, 5.35− 6.25 mm wide. Colour creamy white with brown patches. Pronotum widest anteriorly, anterolateral corners slightly produced laterally. Posterolateral corners with a postero-mesally directed, finger-like process. Abdominal tergum VI or VII and beyond covered with exuvia, fecal shield not retained. Eggs are enclosed in ootheca, 3.31 – 3.61 mm long, 4.0 – 4.47 mm wide. Single egg measures 1.08– 1.46 mm long and 0.54 – 0.77 mm wide. Total longevity ranged from 105 – 128 days, with egg period of 6-7 days, larval period of 15–22 days and pupal period of 4–7 days. Five larval instars with duration as follows: I 2 to 3, II 3 to 4; III 3 to 4; IV 3 to 4 and V 4 to 7 days. The lifecycle was completed in about 32 – 41 days (mean 35.6 days). The adults lived for 80-92 days under laboratory conditions. Cycloalexy, a characteristic subsocial defensive behaviour, performed by the larvae of cassidinae, was observed. Mating lasted for about 2–3 hours and mostly occured at night. Female laid about 24 oothecae within a month. Feeding behaviour of all larval instars and adult were recorded. The white powdery coating on the dorsum of adult was fully formed within 6 – 8 days of emergence. Formation of fecal shield and moulting were recorded. Adults exhibited thanatosis, a defensive tactic by feigning death, for about one minute, when they were kept upside down. The population of S. farinosa was directly dependent on the rain. The highest population was observed from 3 July to 2 September 2023. The population declined from 14 March and disappeared by 14 April 2023 and reappeared in May following premonsoon showers. Of the 50 plants observed, 22 (44%) were infested. On the infested plants, 6.7 – 93.8 % of branches were affected (mean 36 %). Proportion of damaged leaves varied from 6.6 – 82.7% (mean 40.5%). The natural enemies of S. farinosa such as predators, Oecophylla smaragdina on larvae, unidentified ants on eggs, a pupal parasitoid Brachymeria apicicornis and native isolates of fungal pathogens Fusarium longifundum and Cordyceps javanica, were reported for the first time. The red ant Oecophylla smaragdina collected and fed on the white powder on the dorsum of the adult. The chemical composition of both white powder and fecal shield was analysed. The white powder contained tetratetracontane and the fecal shield has decanoic acid, both the compounds having anti-microbial property as per literature. Males of Bactrocera cucurbitae and Bactrocera caudatus were found attracted to fecal shield. The male fruit flies are usually attracted to kairomones and feed on them to attain sexual maturity. Hence, we suspect that some attractant chemicals are present in the fecal shield. Hong and Nishida (2005) reported that various species of Bactrocera were attracted to the flowers of Bulbophyllum apertum due to the release of raspberry ketone by the plant. The fecal shield also contains a ketone compound and the possibility of it being an attractant needs to be further explored.
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    Galerucine leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Galerucini) of southern India
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2021) Viswajyothi, K; Prathapan, K D
    The study entitled ‘The galerucine leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Galerucini) of southern India’ was carried out at College of Agriculture, Vellayani during September 2016−April 2021. The study was designed with the objectives of collection and identification of galerucine leaf beetles of southern India; documentation of host plants and other ecological data in all possible cases; preparation of illustrations and descriptions, with emphasis on characters of male and female genitalia; and preparation of an illustrated key to species. The study area encompasses the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Eight hundred and thirty-three specimens belonging to 41 species in 27 genera were studied. Detailed descriptions were prepared, with colour photographs of dorsal, ventral, lateral and anterior habitus as well as diagnostic characters, including male and female genitalia. Additionally, internal sac or endophallus was everted in relevant and possible cases and illustrated. Measurements and proportions are provided. An illustrated key to select genera and species of Galerucini of south India is given. A checklist of known galerucine leaf beetles of south India is provided. Two putative new genera and two putative new species are described and illustrated. A new species Charaea sahyadrica Bezdek and Viswajyothi was published from this study. The habiti of 20 species in colour, male genitalia of 22 species and female genitalia of 24 species are given for the first time. Twenty-seven new host plants, including eleven (40.7%) economically important ones, were recorded. New host plant records are Aulacophora calva on Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt, Cucumis sativus L. and Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir. (Cucurbitaceae); A. cincta on Manilkara hexandra (Roxb.) Dubard (Sapotaceae); A. frontalis on Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. (Cucurbitaceae); A. impressa on Cucumis sativus L., Cucurbita moschata Duchesne ex Poir. and Trichosanthes cucumerina L. (Cucurbitaceae); A. opacipennis on Momordica charantia L. and Trichosanthes tricuspidata Lour. (Cucurbitaceae); Cassena bengalensis on Mucuna bracteata (L.) DC. (Fabaceae); Erganoides flavicollis on Naravelia ceylanica (L.) DC. (Ranunculaceae) and an unidentified legume (Fabaceae); Galerotella sp. on Cayratia Juss. sp. (Vitaceae); Hoplosaenidea indica on Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) R. N. Parker (Meliaceae); Monolepta longitarsis on Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae) and Spondias pinnata (L. f.) Kurz (Anacardiaceae); Oides affinis on Spermacoce hispida L. and Spermacoce ocymoides Burm.F. (Rubiaceae); Oides flava (Olivier) on Cayratia sp. (Vitaceae); Gallerucida sp. on Cayratia sp.; Sphenoraia hopei on Desmodium triflorum (L.) DC. (Fabaceae) and Myristica fragrans Houtt. (Myristicaceae); Trichomimastra hirsuta on Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) (Myrtaceae); Genus 1 on Spatholobus parviflorus (DC.) Kuntze (Fabaceae) and Genus 2 on Aporosa lindleyana (Wight) Baill. (Phyllanthaceae). New distribution records include two new country records and 10 new state records. The new records to India are A. opacipennis in Karnataka and Kerala and A. tibialis in Kerala. The new records to Kerala are A. frontalis; Cassena bengalensis; Erganoides flavicollis; Galerotella simplicicollis; Kanarella unicolor; Liroetes apicicornis; Mimastra alternata; Oides flava (Olivier); Genus 1 and Genus 2. The new records to Karnataka are Aulacophora parambikulamensis; Hoplasoma costatipennis; Mimastracella hirsuta; Sastroides besucheti and Trichomimastra hirsuta. Aulacophora calva is being reported for the first time in Karnataka and Kerala.
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    Molecular phylogeny of South Indian aphthona spp. (Coleoptrea:chrysomelidae)
    (Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture,Vellayani, 2019) Vishnu, G M; Shanas, S
    Molecular phylogenetics is a disciplinary research of developmental relations among species using molecular sequences. The analytical methods used in molecular phylogenetics were originally developed to reveal developmental patterns, but now it is used in several fields, such as systematic biology and biodiversity, molecular epidemiology, cell function recognition etc. For such purposes, molecular phylogenetics is a basic area of science that most scientists need to comprehend the background. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences has become an important tool for studying the evolutionary history of organisms. Since the rate of sequence evolution varies extensively with gene or DNA segment; one can study the evolutionary relationships of virtually all levels of classification of organisms. Phylogenetic analysis is also important for clarifying the evolutionary pattern of multigene families as well as for understanding the adaptive evolution at the molecular level. The flea beetle genus Aphthona is broad and contains over 350 species that are spread across the biogeographic regions of the Palearctic, Oriental, African, and Australian Old World. Aphthona species are generally mesophilous, however they are diverse ecologically, so that they occur in a wide variety of biogeographic regions and inhabit almost all known habitat ranging from low land rainforest to high altitude coniferous mountains and from desert s to sub artic environs. Most frequently, Aphthona is discovered in wet meadows or on vegetation along waterways and streams. This flea beetle genus is important because of the usefulness of some species in controlling invasive weeds. The fact that a number of Aphthona species feed on Euphorbiacea and the tendency towards monophagy makes them ideal candidates for biological control against weed plants belonging to Euphorbiacea family. Although several Indian workers like Prathapan (2003&2010) have contributed towards classical studies which helped to resolve the taxonamic mystery of Indian Aphthona species, information on the molecular systematic of Indian Aphthona spp. is scant. Through this study the phylogenetic status of the south Indian Aphthona spp. is investigated. The study entitled Molecular phylogeny of south Indian Aphthona spp. was conducted at Dept. Plant Biotechnology and Dept. Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The objective of the study was to identify the genetic structure of South Indian Aphthona spp. using mitochondrial DNA markers and to identify patterns of intra generic genetic diversity among South Indian Aphthona spp. For this Aphthona beetles were collected from various parts of western ghats including different sites of Kerala and Karnataka. Plants from which Aphthona beetles were collected belong to the family Euphorbiaceae. The ten collected specimens were identified using the morphological keys. From the identified specimen’s total genomic DNA was isolated using the Rogers and Benedict (1994) protocol. The DNA was used to amplify the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene, using the selected primers. Both the primers gave amplicons in the size range 650-680. These amplicons were successfully sequenced. All the 10 sequences were used to generate an intragenomic phylogenetic tree using MEGA software. The phylogenetic tree differentiated all the 10 species. Out of the ten species, A. glochidionae & A. tamila, A. chrozophorae & A. chrozophorae 2, A. marataka & A. macarangae were found to be closely related. From the genetic distance calculated based on the CO1 sequences the species A. tamila & A. glochidionae, A. marataka & A. macarangae, A. chrozophorae & A. chrozophorae 2 were found to be synonymous respectively. The morphological and molecular results correlated in confirming the colour polymorphism among the south Indian Aphthona spp. The species A. tamila & A. glochidionae, A. marataka & A. macarangae were confirmed as colour morphs.