Research Paper First Report of Lygaeid Bugs (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) As A

Research paper

First report of Lygaeid bugs (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) as a potential pollinator of little ironweed, Vernonia cinerea (L.) (Asteraceae)

M. E. Hassan, Paramita Mukherjee, Sandeep Kushwaha, Kailash Chandra, P. C. Saha, Rahul Mondal and Sonam Jahan. Zoological Survey of India, M-Block, New Alipore, Kolkata-700 053, West Bengal, India. Corresponding author Email : [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Received: 11/03/2019 Revised: 29/03/2019 Accepted: 08/04/2019

Abstract: Seed bugs, Spilostethus hospes fungivores, scavengers and ectoparasites. and Graptostethus verticalis were collected Lygaeid bugs are commonly known as seed from the flower of little ironweed, Vernonia bugs of ground bugs, recognised by having 4 cinerea (family Asteraceae) in and around segmented antennae and 4 segmented Rabindra Sarovar Lake area, Kolkata. SEM rostrum are important pests of agricultural study was conducted to examine the pollen crops. grains on the various body parts. Both the As far as roll of bugs as insect pollinators or species were reported as a potential flower visitors are concerned, very scanty pollinator of little ironweed for the first information is available and only a few time. studies are being reported on hemipterans or Keywords: Pollination, Hemiptera, flower bugs as pollinators, despite the fact Lygaeidae, Spilostethus hospes, that they are frequently found in flowers, Graptostethus verticalis, Vernonia cinerea, feeding on flower visitors such as thrips SEM. (Yasunaga, 1997). Augul (2016) studied insects pollinators and reported hemipteran INTRODUCTION: abundance (about 5.23%), mainly lygaeids Hemiptera are recognized by having on flower of Asclepiadeae, Asteraceae, piercing and sucking type of mouthparts Fabaceae and Chenopodiaceae, Nysius called rostrum and exhibits a wide spectrum ericae were collected from the flowers of of feeding habits, mostly phytophagous in Apiaceae and Asteraceae and Deraeocoris nature (feed on roots, leaves, stems, seeds, sp. on Asteraceae flowers play possible role fruits), some are predators, blood suckers, in pollination of flowers. Cercopidae and

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Scutelleridae were reported from the plants, morning and evening hours and several Cercopis vulnerata and Eurygaster spp. examples were observed, of which five respectively (Henneresse and Tyteca, specimens of S. hospes and three specimens 2016). Anderson (2003) studied relative of G. verticalis were collected for SEM importance of birds and insects as study. Images of lygaeid bugs were taken in pollinators and observed Hemiptera as natural habitat while feeding and mating on occasional pollen visitors. Young (1986) little ironweed flowers by using Nikon observed Hemiptera (Miridae) visiting D7000 camera. inflorescences of Dieffenbachia longispatha. Preservation: The specimens were carefully Mirid bugs among flower visitors reported killed in a closed container by putting cotton from west Malaysia (Moog, 2002). The most soaked in ethyl acetate to prevent abundant hemiteran flower visitors found on discoloration and hardening of the the male and female inflorescences specimens and to avoid direct contamination were Orius atratus (Anthocoridae, of ethyl acetate to pollen present on the bug. Hemiptera), followed by Decomioides Specimens were transferred in ethyl alcohol schneirlai (Miridae, Hemiptera) (Ishida et (70%) after photography (by Leica al., 2009). In the recent past, Das et al. microscope) and Scanning Electron (2018) studied hemipteran dependency of Microscope study. After the detailed study beet flowers. Raj and Muttu (2014) reported was complete, the specimens were dried, set two species of hemiptera, Nysius sp. and pinned, labeled and deposited in NZC. Adolenda typicaic as temperate fruit crops Identification: External morphology of the pollinators from different parts of Himachal specimen has been studied under light Himalaya. Bhat and Kaveriappa (1995) microscope (Leica M205A) and reported Anthocorid bugs from flowering identification was made by comparing the trees of Myristica fatua from Western Ghats. voucher specimens including types held at In order to understand carrying capacity and National Zoological Collection, Hemiptera holding mechanism of pollen grains in Section, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata lygaeid bugs, SEM studies have been and with literatures. The weed plant was conducted. S. hospes and G. verticalis identified with the help of literature (Naidu, (Lygaeidae) collected from the flower of 2012). little ironweed, V. cinerea (Asteraceae) were SEM Study: Scanning Electron examined under Scanning Electron Micrographs were taken with SEM microscope and images were taken to (EVO18) to study pollen on the collected various body parts (antennae, rostrum, legs, lygaeid seed bug. Freshly killed specimens head and eyes) carrying pollen grains. were fixed on carbon tape on an aluminium plate. After that gold palladium coating was MATERIAL AND METHOD: made. During the process of gold plating, Collection and field observations: S. first the vacuum was created and then hospes and G. verticalis were collected by sputter coating was done and sample was hand picking from the flower of V. cinerea kept for 40 min. After that the sample was (family Asteraceae) from the surrounding placed in sample chamber in high vacuum at areas of Rabindra Sarovar Lake, Kolkata. 20 KV. The different body parts of the The place was visited several times in specimen were focussed by electron beam

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International Journal of Global Science Research ISSN: 2348-8344 (Online) Vol. 6, Issue. 1, April 2019, pp. 934-945 DOI: 10.26540/ijgsr.v6.i1.2019.121 Available Online at www.ijgsr.com © Copyright 2014 | ijgsr.com | All Rights Reserved and images were taken in different around 20 flowers and arranged in magnifications (284 X- 1.18 KX). close terminal flower-heads. The fruits are small 1.3 mm long, 3-4angled and dendely OBSERVATION AND DISCUSSION: pubescent, one-seeded achenes fruits. Lygaeidae as pollinator and flower (Akinnubi et al., 2014). V. cinerea visitor: commonly grows in the proximity of Many lygaeid bugs are reported as flower habitation, thrives in any garden and visitors but very few studies have been made agricultural soils and is very common in whether they act as pollinators or not. In the disturbed sites and degraded areas. It current study we have reported seed bug, S. invades forest, woodland, grassland, hospes and G. verticalis as plant visitor and cultivated land, riparian zones (banks of pollinator of little ironweed, V. cinerea. water courses), wetlands and coastal dunes. Many other orders of insects like (Akinnubi et al., 2014) Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Spilostethus hospes (Fabricius, 1794): Odonata have been also observed visiting S. hospes belong to the family Lygaeidae little ironweed during the time period of (seed bug) are a highly successful family of study. It was observed that bugs visiting true bugs found worldwide. They are one of little ironweed for feeding, egg laying, the three largest families within the mating etc. specimens collected from fresh Heteroptera, yet many aspects of their flowers were found with numerous pollen ecology and evolution remain obscure or grains trapped in the hairs on different parts unknown. Several lygaeid species are of of the body. economic importance due to their status as Little ironweed, Vernonia cinerea (L.): pests. S. hospes is reddish brown in colour The members of Asteraceae, together with with apex of head, inner margin of eyes, the other families in the order Asterales, antennae, rostrum, two broad central discal employ a system of pollination known as band on pronotum, scutellum (excluding plunger, or secondary, pollination. V. apex), central spot to corium, disk of cinerea is an erect, 15-75 cm long, slender, sternum, abdomen and legs black, body grooved and ribbed. The stems and leaves hairy. S. hospes were observed dwelling are covered with fine white hairs, leaves are both on fresh and dry flowers of little variable in shape, broadly elliptic or ironweed, but the pollen were observed only lanceolate, margins toothed. The flowers are on those specimens collected from fresh purple to pink, about 6 mm across, with flowers (Fig. 1-5).

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Graptostethus verticalis (Dallas, 1852): margins and apical part of corium whitish G. verticalis is less diversified and confined pink. Membrane dark brown to black with to eastern part of India, can be recognised by the apical margin white; Legs and antennae having body brick red with dark brown spots brownish black, rostrum black, extending to and patches between the eyes, two small the posterior coxae. G. verticalis was transverse and two large spots on pronotum, observed dwelling mainly on fresh but few a transverse spots on the base of scutellum, specimens were also found on dry flowers of an oval dull grey spot partly on clavus and little ironweed (Fig. 14-16). Relatively more partly on corium, a dark brown streak on pollen was observed on G. verticalis as their clavus superimposing oval spots, a large body was provided with longer hairs. dark brown spots on corium towards outer

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SEM studies: legs and other parts of body may felicitate Scanning Electron Microscope study has the pollen adherence, even in the less or in shown the presence of pollen both in the absence of setae, though it needs further clusters and in scattered condition in detailed study to understand the mechanism different parts of body mainly on the head, of pollen transfer to the bugs and its antennae, base of eyes, along with rostrum, sustenance on the body. As the insect visit sternum, tarsi in both the species of lygaeid very frequently to other flowers of the same bugs. Pollen grains were observed in plant and others, transfer of pollen grains are clusters near base of eyes, apex and base of obvious. Synchronization of life cycles of rostrum, and in scattered conditions to the these lygaeid bugs with the flowering of apex and base of antennae, on head, sternum little ironweed provide ample opportunity of and tarsi in S. hospes. About 60-80 pollen pollination. grains were observed per specimen mainly to antennae, basal and apical parts of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: rostrum, sternum, near compound eyes, head Authors express their deep sense of gratitude and tarsi (Fig. 6-13). Pollen were found to Dr. Kailash Chandra, Director, Zoological adhere more to the body parts with longer, Survey of India for his constant help, curved and stout setae, but pollens were support and all laboratory facilities. Authors also observed on the body parts with smaller are also grateful to Dr. C. Raghunathan, setae or even on smooth surface. In G. Scientist-E, Divisional-in-charge, verticalis, more than 120 pollens were Entomology Division, for his help and observed on various parts of body like, head encouragements. Authors are highly grateful (ventral side), antennae, base of eyes, few on to Dr. Gurupada Mondal, Scientist- D, O/C mesosternum and abdomen, and on legs Apterygota Section and in-charge of SEM. (mainly femur, tibia, tarsus) (Fig. 17 -30). We also express our thanks to Mrs. Srabani Pollens observed were polypantoporate, Kayal, for assistannce in photograohy in prolatespheroidal, spines having sharp SEM. Authors are also thankful to all the pointed ends with dense pores. Its diameter officers and staffs of Hemiptera section for ranges from 17.14 - 25.72 mm. their helpful co-operation. During the month of February, seed bug was dominated on the plants as compared to the REFERENCES: other insects, is an indicative of importance Akinnubi F.M., Akinloye A.J. and Oladipo of seed bug as potential pollen vector in O.T. (2014) Pollen Grain Morphology of little ironweed ecosystem. Mechanism of Some Selected Species of Asteraceae in adherence of pollen grains in hemiptera and SouthWestern Nigeria. Research in Plant in particular lygaeid bugs has not been Biology, 4 (6), 17-23. studied. Parts of the body of bugs (rostrum, legs, antennae, lower parts of body, margins Anderson S. H. (2003) The relative of pronotum and corium) which come in importance of birds and insects as direct contact to male part of the flower pollinators of the New Zealand flora. New receive maximum number of pollen rather Zealand Journal of Ecology, 27(2), 83-94. on the dorsal side, like pronotum, corium, scutellum. Presence of nectar on rostrum,

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