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

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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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    Diversity of coccinellid beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of northern Kerala
    (Department of agricultural entomology, college of agriculture ,  Padannakkad, 2023) Gokul Goutham;  Vidya, C V
    Coccinellid beetles, commonly known as ladybirds or lady beetles, belong to the family Coccinellidae of order Coleoptera, are species rich and play a significant and multifaceted role in agriculture. Coccinellids are ecologically and morphologically diverse and exhibit a wide range of food habits spanning kingdoms and trophic levels. Most of the coccinellids are predaceous on various agricultural pests, whereas a few are phytophagous, and some are mycophagous. The research work on “Diversity of coccinellid beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) of northern Kerala” was undertaken in the Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Padannakkad during 2021-2023 for the documentation of the species composition and estimation of diversity indices of coccinellid beetles in different agro-ecological zones of northern Kerala and to generate DNA barcodes and carry out molecular analysis of coccinellids associated with different cropping systems. Purposive surveys were conducted across four different agro-ecological zones, viz., coastal plain, midland laterites, foothill, and high hill, covering Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, and Wayanad districts. Different cropping systems, viz., rice, vegetables, fruits, and plantation crops were covered during the survey. A total of 27 species of coccinellids belonging to six tribes were recorded. Among these, three were phytophagous viz., Afidenta misera, Henosepilachna septima, and H. vigintioctopunctata and two were mycophagous viz., Illeis bielawskii and Illeis cincta and rest of 22 species were predacious in nature. Total number of coccinellid species recorded from rice, vegetables, plantation crops and fruits were seven, 18, 11 and eight, respectively. Among different agroecological zones, high hills recorded maximum number of coccinellids (20) followed by coastal plain (19), midland laterites (14) and foothills (10). Diversity indices to assess species richness, diversity, dominance and evenness were estimated. The most abundant coccinellid species was H. vigintioctopunctata, with a relative abundance of 29.86 per cent. The predominant predatory coccinellid was Cheilomenes sexmaculata (11.88%), followed by Coccinella transversalis (11.72%). Among various cropping systems the vegetable cropping system displayed highest species richness, while rice showed lowest richness. High hills showed the highest richness and least rich was foot hills. Species diversity was estimated in terms of Shannon-Wiener index (H) and the most diverse cropping system was plantation crops (1.96) and least diverse was rice (1.15) ecosystem. Among the agroecological zones, high hill (2.47) was the most diverse, and the foothill was the least diverse zone (1.91). Species dominance was studied by using Simpson’s index. The highest value of Simpson’s index was observed in rice (0.46) and lowest value in plantation crops (0.17). Among agroecological zones, coastal plain was least diverse with highest dominance value (0.21) and lowest dominance value was in midland laterites (0.11). Pielou's evenness index (J) estimated how evenly species are distributed in a community. The vegetable cropping system had the lowest species evenness (0.39) while the plantation crops had the highest (0.65). The species were more evenly distributed in midland laterites (0.75), while less evenly in coastal plains (0.42). Total genomic DNA was isolated and mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (CO1) locus was amplified using LCO1490 /HCO2198 primers. DNA sequencing was done by outsourcing. The forward and reverse COI sequences were trimmed using BioEdit Sequence Alignment Editor software and assembled using CAP3 sequence assembler. Molecular analysis of 20 sequences representing 17 species was done using MEGA11 software. Homology analysis of 14 DNA sequences, encompassing 13 distinct species using Nucleotide BLAST of NCBI revealed a substantial similarity of over 98 per cent when compared to sequences present in the NCBI database. Six sequences of four species showed less than 90 per cent similarity to other sequences in the NCBI database. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using MEGA11 software with the Maximum likelyhood method and a bootstrap value of 1000. The analysis incorporated 20 generated sequences in this study and 20 sequences (including Amphix laevigatus as outgroup) retrieved from the NCBI database. The tree formed two major clades, one includes I. cincta and all other species formed the second major clade. Within the second major clade, members of each tribe formed as separate clade except for S. sp. nr. posticalis. Twenty accessions of 17 species were submitted to NCBI and BOLD databases
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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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    Review of the insect pests of pulsecrops and studies on the biology of the pea leaf roller Nacoleia vulgalis Guence (Pyralidae)
    (Division of Entomology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vellayani, 1963) Mammen, K V; Joseph, K V
    Literature on the insect pests of the important pilse crops, with special reference to the work done in India has been reviewed. The biology and bionomics of the pea leaf roller Nacoleia vulgalis Gn. (Pyralidae) have been worked out in detail. The moths mate a day after emergence. The female moth lays creamy yellow, oval, scale like eggs during night in rows, generally on tender leaves . On an average , about 542 eggs are laid by one female. Incubation period is 4 days. Larval period lasts 13 to 15 days, the larva undergoing five instars. Durations of the different instars are 3 to 4 , 2 to 3, 2 to 3, 2 to 3 and 4 to 6 days respectively. The first instar caterpillars nibble and feed on the green matter on the undersurface at the base of the leaves and the later stage caterpillars web the leaves together and feed from inside skeletonising the leaves.
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    Augmentation of pollination in culinary melon (Cucumis melo var. acidulus L. Naudin) with Indian bee (Apis cerana indica Fab.)
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2019) Aneetta, M R; Amritha, V S
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    Systematics of the tribes scymnini and stethorini (coleoptera: coccinellidae) from South India
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara, 2018) Vidya, C V; Haseena Bhaskar
    Family Coccinellidae, the lady beetles, belong to the superfamily Coccinelloidea of the order Coleoptera and comprises approximately 6000 described species worldwide. Tribes Scymnini and Stethorini of the subfamily Scymninae of Coccinellidae are economically important predators successfully used in the biological control programmes of sucking pests of crops. Members of Scymnini are mainly predators of aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies and scales, whereas Stethorini are specific to mites. Though the fauna of Scymnini and Stethorini in India is species rich, it is poorly studied. The present investigation on “Systematics of the tribes Scymnini and Stethorini (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from south India” was carried out during 2015-17. The objectives include the following: (1) taxonomy of the tribes Scymnini and Stethorini associated with sucking pests in different agricultural ecosystems of south India, (2) prepare a key to the species of Scymnini and Stethorini and (3) generate DNA barcode for different species of Stethorini. Purposive surveys were undertaken across different districts of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu covering 47 locations and 64 crops under different agricultural ecosystems. Beetles and immature stages of Scymnini and Stethorini were collected along with the associated prey. Immature stages of Scymnini and Stethorini were reared to adults. The specimens were then mounted, labeled and preserved as per standard procedures. The beetles were dissected and the taxonomic characters viz., antenna, mouth parts, prosternum, tarsus, post coxal line, male and female genitalia were studied and illustrated. The specimens were identified up to species level. Descriptions, illustrations and key to genera and species of Scymnini and Stethorini of southern India were prepared. The study encompasses 28 species of Scymnini of which six are putative new species. Two species are recorded for the first time in India and two species each from south India and Kerala are new records. Scymnini include Axinoscymnus, The genera treated under Cryptolaemus, Horniolus, Nephus, Sasajiscymnus and Scymnus. The genus Scymnus, represented by 20 species, of which 18 species are placed in three subgenera viz., Scymnus, Neopullus and Pullus. Two species are treated separately, as these differ distinctly from the known subgenera. The genus Nephus is represented by three species, Axinoscymnus with two species and Cryptolaemus, Horniolus and Sasajiscymnus with one species each. Stethorini are represented by 10 species in two genera: Stethorus and Parastethorus. Two putative new species of the tribe are described. Six species of Stethorini are new reports for Kerala. Two subgenera recognized under the genus Stethorus are Stethorus and Allostethorus. represented by four species each. Stethorus keralicus, one of the most common species, has been treated separately in this study, as its characters are not in agreement with the known subgenera. The genus Parastethorus is represented by only one species. The prey ranges of Scymnini and Stethorini were documented. Species distribution map were prepared for the species studied. Twenty one species of prey in four families viz., Aphididae, Pseudococcidae, Aleyrodidae and Diaspididae were recorded in association with the tribe Scymnini. Two new prey records for Scymnini are Toxoptera odinae for Scymnus pyrocheilus and Saccharicoccus sacchari for Nephus tagiapatus. Among Scymnini, Scymnus coccivora and S. saciformis are widely distributed with wider host range of six species as prey, while species of Axinoscymnus, though widely distributed, is specific to whiteflies. Among Stethorini, Stethorus pauperculus was found to be the predominant species with wider host range, while Stethorus keralicus was specific to Raoiella indica. New prey records for Stethorini includes Tetranychus okinawanus and T. truncatus for Stethorus forficatus; T. macfarlanei for S. pauperculus and Eutetranychus orientalis for Parastethorus indira. For barcoding the species of Stethorini, DNA was isolated using Qiagen DNeasy blood and tissue kit and the COI locus was amplified and sequenced. The sequences were aligned and characteristic barcode gaps were identified for Parastethorus indira, Stethorus forficatus, S. pauperculus, S. rani, S. keralicus, S. (Allostethorus) sp. 1 and S. (Stethorus) sp.1. Pairwise distances between the sequences were analysed which showed that intraspecific divergence ranged between 0.00 to 0.03, while the interspecific distance ranged between 0.14 to 0.24. A phylogenetic tree was constructed with 21 sequences in MEGA 7 using the maximum likelihood tree method. The sequences were submitted to GenBank (NCBI) and to BOLD for the generation of species specific barcodes. The study identified 38 species of predatory coccinellids in the tribe Scymnini and Stethorini in association with aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, scales and mites, which are serious pests of crops. Knowledge on the taxonomy of these predators and their prey range throws light on the potential of the above groups in biocontrol of sucking pests.
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    Potential of the narural bio polymers, chitin and chitosan in pest management
    (Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2017) Archana, N H; Reji Rani, O P