Current Biotica 10(4): 306-308, 2017 ISSN 0973-4031
Incidence of litchi bug, Tessaratoma javanica (Thunberg) (Hemiptera: Tessaratomidae) on Sapindus mukorossi in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Mahendra Devanda1 and M. Jayashankar2*
Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre/Zoological Survey of India, Senki Valley, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India *Present address: 1DRC/ZSI, Jodhpur-5, Rajasthan; 2Department of Zoology, St. Josephs College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Corresponding E-mail: [email protected]
Litchi bug/Lychee giant stink bug, nymphs were seen gregariously and Tessaratoma javanica (Thunberg) voraciously sap-sucking from tender (Tessaratomidae: Hemiptera) is a minor shoots. The bugs congregated in large pest of Litchi, Litchi chinensis (Kumar et numbers during breeding season on host al., 2008), apple, pear and mulberry (Sunil plants. Mating pairs (males smaller than and Chandrashekar, 2013), it is also females) on the tree were observed (Fig.2) recorded on Champaka (Kumar and Singh, and also individuals of different nymphal 2007), Mahua (Hassan et al., 2014). There stages (Fig.3). The adults emitted a strong are records of outbreaks in India foul smell when collected using sweep nets (Chaudhary et al., 2013). Adults and and long sticks. The newly emerged leaf nymphs of T. javanica feed on tender plant shoots and twigs were seen drying due to parts such as growing buds, leaf petioles, congregation of sap-sucking adults and fruit stalks and tender branches and serious nymphs (Fig.4). The collections are duly infestation results in drying of growing deposited in APRC/ZSI Museum buds, tender shoots and ultimately fruit (APRC/ZSI/IV/2485). Although reptilian drop (www.nbair.res.in/insectpests/ predators like skink and garden lizards Tessaratoma-javanica.php). The adults are (Calotes sp.) were observed in the sites large bugs, ovate or elongate ovate with a along with bugs, no predation was characteristics small triangular head, the observed. Numerous dead adults were pronotum is large and the triangular found fallen below the trees observed. scutellum does not cover the corium (Schuh and Slater 1955). The host S. mukorossi is a deciduous tree grown in the lower foothills During the present observations and midhills of the Himalayans (Sharma et different life stages of T. javanica (Fig.1) al., 2011) reported to possess insect were observed on two trees of Sapindus repellent properties (Rahman et al., 2007). mukorossi Gaertn. (Soapnut tree) Most insect crop pests are specialists (Fam.Sapindaceae), one in the APRC/ZSI preadapted to feed on plants, often within a (Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre of single plant family and feeding more Zoological Survey of India) office widely only when preferred hosts are premises (Site 1) and the other tree in the unavailable (Capinera, 2005). The APRC residential quarters (Site 2). About incidence of the pest was observed on S. ten adults and three nymphs were recorded mukorossi (Sapindaceae member like during May 2017 in Site 1 and thirty three litchi) only, the host range and prevalence adults and eight nymphs were counted of the bug in the region needs to be during August 2017 in Site 2. Adults and studied.
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Current Biotica 10(4): 306-308, 2017 ISSN 0973-4031
Fig.1: Tesaratoma javanica adult on Sapindus Fig.2: A mating pair mukorossi
Fig. 3: Nymphal stages Fig. 4: Drying of new shoots due to bug infestation
Acknowledgements: The authors are Tessaratoma javanica (Hemiptera: thankful to Dr. K. Ravikumar (FRLHT, Tessaratomidae) on Mahua tree in Bengaluru) for identifying the tree. Chhattisgarh. Records of Zoological Survey of India. 114 (Part-2): 263- REFERENCES 268.
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Current Biotica 10(4): 306-308, 2017 ISSN 0973-4031
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