Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2016; 4(3): 228-233

E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Seasonal history of dusky cotton bug ( JEZS 2016; 4(3): 228-233 © 2016 JEZS hyalinipennis Costa) Received: 25-03-2016 Accepted: 26-04-2016 Zafar Ullah Shah, Amjad Ali, Ibrar-Ul-Haq, Faisal Hafeez Zafar Ullah Shah Entomological Research sub- station, Bahawalpur, Abstract Entomologist, Entomological Thirty four host or shelter plants were studied for the prevalence of dusky cotton bug (DCB), Oxycarenus Research, Institute, Faisalabad, hyalinipennis Costa pest becoming a threat to cotton crop in Pakistan) from January, 2013 to December, Pakistan 2014, in three different locations in the field area around Bahawalpur city, Punjab, Pakistan. The levels of pest prevalence were as ‘A’ (50 or more adults/nymphs of DCB / terminal shoot (10cm), ‘B’ (25 or more Amjad Ali adults/nymphs of DCB/terminal shoot (10cm) and ‘C’ (below 25 adults/nymphs of DCB / terminal shoot Entomologist, Entomological (10cm). Maximum prevalence of DCB was observed on cotton, hirsutum (5.24%) followed Research, Institute, Faisalabad, by Moringa, Moringa oleifera (3.75%) under category ‘A’, during the year, 2014. The least prevalence Pakistan (0.33%) of the pest was recorded on each on Gutta (Tagetes erecta), Phalsa (Grewia asiatica), Jasmine

Ibrar-Ul-Haq (Jasminum officinale), Maku (Solanum nigrum) and Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) under category Director, Entomological ‘C’, during the year, 2013. Research, Institute, Faisalabad, The pest passed the peak season of winter (December to March) mainly on Moringa, Mango (Mangifera Pakistan indica), (Abutilon indicum), Guava (Psidium guajava), Sweet lemon (Citrus limetta), Ficus (Ficus benjamina), cotton sticks (Gossypium hirsutum) and China Rose ( spp.), while it confined Faisal Hafeez only on cotton, (Abelmoschus esculentus) and abutilon from August-November. There was no pest Assistant Entomologist, prevalence on wheat (Triticum sp.), Chillies (Capsicum annum) and Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) Entomological Research, throughout the observation period during, 2013-14. Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan Keywords: Dusky cotton bug, hosts, trees, shrubs, herbs

Introduction

Dusky cotton Bug (DCB), Oxycarenus hyalinipennis Costa was considered to be a minor pest

of cotton. Its chief importance lies in the fact that the adults and nymphs get crushed at time of ginning, thus staining the lint and lowering the market value of cotton [1]. Nymphs and adults

suck the sap gregariously from immature seeds which do not ripe and remain light in weight [2]. Oxycarenus spp. also causes loss in cotton yield up to 6.8 percent, seed weight and oil [3] content up to 32 and 6 percent, respectively . Dusky cotton bug was considered to be minor

pest of cotton but now it is becoming a threat to early and late cotton crop in Pakistan. Sucking behavior of this disturbs the cotton crop both at early and late stages. It sucks the cell

sap from the reproductive parts of plants and it deteriorates the seed quality. Besides damaging the seeds and the reproductive parts it also deteriorates the lint quality resulting in poor [4] ginning of cotton fibers . Its huge population is being recorded in the squares resulting in

change of square’s color from green to pale yellow and ultimately shedding of the attacked squares. In the past it was supposed that DCB overwinters only on un-ginned cotton in ginning [1] factories and houses . Now keeping in mind, the seriousness of this pest, the present study was conducted with the objective whether this pest is confined only on un-ginned cotton

during winter or it is overwintered on other plants also.

Materials and Methods

The prevalence of Dusky Cotton Bug (DCB) was recorded from 34 different plants by visiting farm area of three different locations i.e., Farm land of Regional Agriculture Research

Institute, Mouza Mundhali, Lodhran and Habib Mison (Ahmedpur East Road) around Correspondence Bahawalpur City after 15 days interval from January, 2013 to December 2014. Each location Zafar Ullah Shah was 18 to 31 km apart. Entomological Research sub- The levels of pest prevalence (3) were categorized as under: station, Bahawalpur, A: 50 or more adults/nymphs of DCB / terminal shoot (10cm) Entomologist, Entomological Research, Institute, Faisalabad, B: 25 or more adults/nymphs of DCB / terminal shoot (10cm) Pakistan C: Below 25 adults/nymphs of DCB / terminal shoot (10cm) ~ 228 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

There are different type of plants present classified on the indicum, A. crispum, S. rhombifolia and S. rhombiodea. basis of stature such as trees, shrubs, herbs, creepers, climbers Earlier studies [8-13] showed that plants of different seasons and grasses. The data were recorded by observing 15 bear seeds at different time in a year and thus fed by DCB [14]. randomly selected shoots / tree. In the same consequence, The most important hosts are cultivated crops (such as cotton, premises of 15 shoots/tree was measured and data were taken okra, Deccan Hemp and Roselle) and many ornamentals [15]. according to this measurement with respect to per shrubs, All these research studies are in close conformity with present herbs, creepers, climbers and grasses. However, all squares, study as these researchers are mostly working in Indian flowers and bolls were observed in case of cotton falling environment that is in close accordance with our climate within premises of 15 shoots per field. The DCB population fluctuations and interface. In addition to this, DCB is now present on Bamboo was recorded by observing stem (10cm) present in all seasons such as summer, winter, Spring and under the leaf sheath. The DCB population was shredded rainy. Generally speaking, DCB is polyphagous insect. (with the help of camel hair brush) in the plastic jar and Despite damaging/preferring cotton, it also feeds on fruits and counted carefully. vegetables apple, dates, avocado, grapes, peach, pineapple, fig The prevalence percentage of the pest on each host or shelter and pomegranate et al. [16, 17]. It not only sucks the sap but also plant under study was calculated by the formula followed by reduces seed weight (40.8%), viability (29.3%) and oil Aheer et al., [5]. Furthermore, dusky cotton bug is slow feeder, content (35.1%) in substantial amount [18]. In some parts of therefore, the mode damage was not recorded. So in the the Israel, it induced fruit disfigurement by consistent sucking present study, only population prevalence on the basis of and making certain greasy spots on fruits and sometimes percent existence of the said pest was calculated. injects toxic saliva as well [14,19]. However, the existence depends on presence of host plant that provides shelter from seasonal extremes. In other words, we can say that DCB is one of the notorious pests that present if and only if any hibernating/sheltering place is available within which the pest

overwinters. Results and Discussion

The results (Table 2) indicated that cotton was the most preferred host and DCB remained present throughout the cropping season from April to December, during both study years (2013 and 2014) under ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ prevalence levels (%). The maximum prevalence of DCB was observed on cotton i.e., 4.33 and 5.24 percent under ‘A’ prevalence level and 2.33 and 2.25 percent under ‘B’ prevalence level, followed by Moringa i.e., 3.67 and 3.75 percent under ‘A’ prevalence level during 2013 and 2014, respectively. However, the maximum prevalence was found on China Rose i.e., 7.0 and 7.87% followed by Okra with 5.67 and 5.99%, under ‘C’ category prevalence level, during both study years, respectively. The least prevalence of DCB was recorded on Berseem, Gutta, Phalsa, Jasmine and Maku, each showed 0.33% pest prevalence only under ‘C’ category during 2013, while Sarsoon showed 0.37% prevalence each under ‘A’ and ‘B’ prevalence levels during 2014. The Gutta, Cotton sticks, Phalsa and Jasmine had 0.37% pest abundance under ‘C’ prevalence level. There was no pest prevalence on wheat, Chilies and Date palm throughout the observation period (during 2013 and 2014). The results in Table 1 showed that DCB population was confined only on cotton, Okra and Abutilon from August to November and the pest overwintered the peak season from December to March, mainly on Moringa, Ficus, Mango, Abutilon, Guava, Sweat lemon, Cotton sticks, and Rose of China, during study period (2013 and 2014). Dusky cotton bug spends life while feeding on cotton, Okra, Hollyhock, Abutilon (Abutilon indicum). Rose of china, Hibiscus cannabiscus and other Malvaceous weeds [1, 4, 6]. This migratory behavior of DCB revolves round the year from one to other host, not only for feeding but also for spending overwintering period. In 2015, Abbas and coworkers [7], described 23 hibernating/alternate host plant, including guava, mango, jaman, eucalyptus and neem as most preferred hosts within which DCB draws moisture contents instead of feeding. However, preference depends on shorter growth rate with increased body weight. These behavioral studies did by Ananthakrishnan and his coworker while working in India [8]. They found that dusky cotton produced more egg with shorter life span while feeding/consuming cotton followed by A. ~ 229 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

Table 1: Seasonal incidence of dusky cotton bug on different host / shelter plants during 2013-2014

DCB recording period Sr No Plant Sites January February March April May June July August September October November December 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 1 L A A A A A A C A C ------1 Ficus 2 L A A A A A B A B B ------3L * ------1L * ------2 Sweet lemon 2 L A A A A A A A B C C C C ------3 L A A A A A A A B C C C ------1 L A A A A A A B B B C C C C C ------3 Moringa 2 L A A A A A A A A A C C C C C ------C C 3 L A A A A A A C C C C C C C ------C C 1 L A A A A B A C C C ------C C 4 Bogansancheria 2 L A A A A B A C C C C ------C C 3 L B B B B B C C C C C ------C C 1 L A A A A B B C C C C ------C - 5 kanair 2 L A A A A A B ------3 L A A B B ------1 L - - C C C C C C ------6 Acacia 2 L A A A A A B B C C ------3 L - - C C C C C ------1L * ------7 Anar 2 L B B C C C C C C C C C C ------3 L B C C C C C C C C C C ------1 L C C C C C C A B C C ------8 Mango 2 L A A A A A A A A A B ------3 L A A A A A A A A B C ------C C 1 L* ------9 Ak 2 L C C C C C C ------3 L C C C C C C ------1 L A A A A B B B C C C C ------C - C C 10 Abutilon 2 L A A A A B B B B C C C ------C - C C 3 L C C C C C C C C ------C - C C 1 L ------11 Sarsoon 2 L A A A B ------3 L ------1 L* ------12 Bamboo 2 L C C C C C C ------3 L* ------1 L* ------13 Mulberry 2 L C C C C C C C C C C C ------3 L* ------1 L* ------14 Jamun 2 L B B B B C C C C C ------3 L - - C C C C C C C C ------1 L B B B B B B C C C C ------15 Guava 2 L A A A A A A A C C ------C - 3 L A A A A A A A A B C ------C - 1 L B B B B C C ------16 Cotton sticks 2 L A A A A C ------3 L A A A A C ------1 L - - C C ------17 Shesham 2 L C C C C ------3 L C C C ------~ 230 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

1 L C C C C C C C C C C C ------C - 18 Ber 2 L C C B B B B B B B B C ------C - 3 L C C B B B B C C C C ------C - 1 L C C C C C C C C C C C C C C ------C C 19 Rose of china 2 L C B B C C C C C C C - C C ------C C 3 L C C C C C C C C C C C C ------C C 1 L ------C C A A B B B B A A A A A A C C C C 20 Cotton 2 L ------C C A A B B A A A A A A A A C C C C 3 L ------C C A A A A B A A A A A B B B B B B 1 L ------21 Wheat 2 L ------3 L ------1 L ------22 Chilly 2 L ------3 L ------1 L ------23 Berseem 2 L ------3 L ------C ------1 L* ------24 Brinjil 2 L ------C C ------3 L ------C C C C C ------1 L* ------Commando 25 2 L* ------bush 3 L C C C C B B A A C C ------B B 1 L* ------26 Gutta 2 L* ------3 L ------C C ------1 L* ------27 Maku 2 L* ------3 L ------C ------1 L ------28 Carrot 2 L ------C - C ------3 L* ------1 L* ------29 Onion 2 L ------C C C C ------3 L* ------1 L ------C C C C C C C C C C ------30 Okra 2 L ------C C C C C C C C C C C C C - - - - - 3 L ------C C C C C C C C C C ------1 L ------31 Lemon 2 L ------3 L ------B B C C ------C C 1 L ------C C ------32 Phalsa 2 L* ------3 L* ------1 L ------C C ------33 Jasmine 2 L* ------3 L* ------1 L ------34 Date Palm 2 L ------3 L ------1 L = Farm Area Of Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Bahawalpur 2 L = Field Area Of Mouza Moundhali (Lodhran), Bahawalpur 3 L = Field Area Of Habib Mison (Ahmedpur East Road), Bahawalpur The Host Plant Was Absent.

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Table 2: Prevalence (%) of Dusky Cotton Bug on different host or shelter plants

Host placement Pest prevalence (%) Sr. No. A B C English / local name Botanical name Family 2013 2014 2013 2014 2013 2014 1 Cotton Gossypium hirsutum 4.33 5.24 2.33 2.25 2.33 2.62 2 Moringa Moringa oleifera Moringaceae 3.67 3.75 0.67 0.37 3.33 4.12 3 Guava Psidium guajava L Myrtaceae 2.67 2.62 1.33 1.12 1.67 1.50 4 Ber Zizyphus mauritiana Rhamnaceae - - 2.0 2.25 4.67 3.37 5 Mango Mangifera indica L Anacardiaceae 3.33 3.0 0.33 0.75 0.67 1.12 6 Okra Abelmoschus esculentus L Malvaceae - - - - 5.67 5.99 7 Anar Punica granatum L Punicacae - - 0.67 0.37 3.33 3.74 8 Acacia Acacia arabica Fabaceae 1.0 0.75 0.33 0.37 2.33 2.25 9 Mulberry Morus nigra Moraceae - - - - 2.0 1.87 10 jamun Syzygium cuminii Myrtaceae - - 0.67 0.75 2.33 2.25 11 Sweat lemon Citrus limetta Rutaceae 2.67 2.25 - 0.75 1.33 1.12 12 Bogansancharia Bougan villa Nyctaginaceae 1.33 2.25 1.67 0.75 3.0 3.37 13 Abutilon Abutilon indicum Malvaceae 1.33 1.50 1.33 1.12 4.67 3.74 14 Rose of china Hibiscus sp. Malvaceae - - 0.33 0.37 7.0 7.87 15 Ficus Ficus benjamina Moraceae 2.33 2.25 0.33 0.75 0.67 - 16 Brinjal Solanum melongena L Solanaceae - - - - 1.33 1.12 17 Commando bush Rhoda dendron austrinum Ericaceae - - 0.67 0.75 1.0 1.12 18 Lemon Citrus aurantifolia Rutaceae - - 0.33 0.37 0.67 0.75 19 Cotton sticks Gossypium hirsutum Malvaceae 1.33 1.50 0.67 0.75 1.0 0.37 20 Kanair Narium indicum Apocynaceae 2.0 1.87 0.67 1.12 1.0 0.75 21 Bamboo Bambusa vulgaris Poaceae - - - - 1.0 1.12 22 Ak Calotropis sp. Apocynaceae - - - - 2.0 2.25 23 Shesham Dalbergia sissoo Fabaceae - - - - 1.67 1.50 24 Berseem Trifolium alexandrinum Fabaceae - - - - 0.33 - 25 Sarsoon Brassica sp. Crucifera 0.67 0.37 - 0.37 - - 26 Gutta Tegeteserectica Asteraceae - - - - 0.33 0.37 27 Carrot Daucus carota Apiaceae - - - - 0.67 - 28 Onion Allium cepa L. Alliaceae - - - - 0.67 0.75 29 Phalsa Grewia asiatica L. Tiliceae - - - - 0.33 0.37 30 Maku Solanum nigrum Solanaceae - - - - 0.33 - 31 Jasmine Jasminum officinale L. Oleaceae - - - - 0.33 0.37 32 Wheat Triticum sp. Gramineae ------33 Chilies Capsicum annum L. Solanaceae ------34 Date palm Phoenix dactylifera L. Palmaceae ------

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