Sarhad J. Agric. Vol. 23, No. 4, 2007

EGG LAYING PREFERENCES OF pictus FAB. (, ORTHROPTERA) IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOIL

J.A. Umrani *, T. S. Syed *, Nisar. A. Kanher *** , F. M. Kanher ** and S. A. Tunio **

ABSTRACT The experiment was conducted on egg laying preference of Akk in different types of soil under laboratory condition at temperature 25±2 ˚C during 2005, Department of Entomology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam. The soil types included Rustam Silty clay loam, Lalin Silt loam, Pacca Matli silty complex, Miani silty Clay loam and Sarhad silty loam, with moisture contents of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%, respectively. The results revealed that P. Pictus preferred Rustam Silty Clay loan soil with 5% moisture where it laid higher no. of (41.62 eggs/female). The same soil type with 25% moisture was least preferred for egg laying (1.57 eggs/female) whereas in different soil and different moisture contents no egg laying was recorded on 0% soil content moisture Lalian and Miani, followed by 10%, 15% and 20% on Sarhad, Miani and Pacca soil recorded respectively. The over all average of egg laying preference of Akk grass hopper in the different types of soil revealed that Rustam Silty clay loam (12.45 eggs/female) was comparatively favourable soil for egg laying Akk grass hopper. Whereas the lowest preferred soil for fecundity was recorded on Lalian silt loam with an average (6.01 eggs/female) Akk grass hopper. From the present study it was concluded that Akk grass hopper, P. pictus showed significantly more preference in egg laying in soil containing 5% moisture.

Keywords: Egg laying, Peoklocerus pictus , Soil types, Temperature

INTRODUCTION Akk grass hopper, Poekilocerus pictus Fab. The findings will help later manage the pest under (Orthroptera Pyrgomorphidae) is one of the different soil conditions. common grass hopper species occurring in Pakistan, MATERIALS AND METHODS India, and Afghanistan. (Shumakor, 1963; Cejchan, Culture Method of AKK grass hopper 1969 and Sheri, 1976). The experiment were conducted on egg laying of preference of Poekilocerus pictus on different types Lohar (1998) reported Akk grass hopper is a of soil moisture under laboratory conditions, primarily the pest of Akk- Plant Calotropis Department of Entomology, Sindh Agriculture gigantean and cause lot of the damage to cultivated University Tandojam. crops in Sindh Pakistan. Bindra, (1958) reported that P. pictus is feeder of cowpea, okra, brinjal, A large number of nymphs and adults were castor, citrus, papaya, wheat, alfalfa, corn and collected from outskirts of TandoJam. Collection cotton etc in Pakistan and India. P. pictus attack were made with the help of inset collecting net mango orchards, betal creepers, forest trees, trees from 7 to 9 am till 6 to 7 pm every day. The of jasmine and mulberry cultivated in lower Sindh collected were released in the cages for (Rizvi, 1992). These acridids are highly destructive rearing. After the nymphs became adults, they were to infest over 200 species of the host plants, which transferred into separate cages. are grouped in different plant families of the For conducting the experiment on egg laying vegetable farms, ornamental plants, guavas, lemon preference, 20 pairs of newly emerged adult P. and citrus, (Patel, 1991). pictus (4 pairs in each cage) were released and their egg laying capacity determined. Ghouri (1975) reported that although P. pictus normally occurs only on the leaves of wild Akk Cage (Calotropis procera ) plants in Pakistan, an The cages were made from iron frame (21” length outbreak occurred along the Chenab river in the X 3” width) and covered with muslin cloth from all Jhang district of the Punjab during May and June sides , except the lower side, Stalk of Calotrops 1973 in which cotton seedlings and melon, chili procera were dipped in glass bottle containing and cucurbit plantations were also severely water to maintain freshness of leaves, which were damaged. P. pictus is usually present in small provided for feeding. number, its population occasionally may increase greatly to the extent of an outbreak and causes Egg Laying Preference in Different Types of Soil sever economic damage to crops after its normal Different types of soil were provided in the crystal host plant has been defoliated and depleted. plastic Jar measuring 8 inch in length to serve as egg laying substrate to the females of P. pictus. The present study aimed to determine egg laying preferences of P. pictus in different types of soil.

* Department of Entomology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Sindh - Pakistan ** Department of Agriculture Extension, Sindh - Pakistan *** Department of Microbiology, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh - Pakistan

J.A. Umrani et al. Egg Laying Preferences of Poekilocerus pictus FAB… 1114

The different soil types used were it sterilities and 3.22± 3.22, respectively, whereas, in Rustam clay dried afterwards in the autoclave machine at 15 lbs and Miani, no egg laying was recorded. per squire with 50 ˚C for 3½ hours. Fixed quantity of soil was taken and it was added with measured In 20% soil moisture content the highest fecundity quantity of it stilled water to make different of Akk grass hopper was found in Miani clay moisture levels. The experiment was replicated five 30.11±13.94 followed by Sarhad 10.88±6.66, times. Lalian 8.28±5.36, Rustam 5.143±3.28 and lowest number of eggs were found in Pacca Matli The different types of Soil 4.02±4.02 respectively. i. Rustam Silty Clay Loam. ii. Lalin Silt Loam. When 25% moisture contained soil was provided to iii. Pacca Matli Silty Complex. the females of Akk grass hopper, Sarhad was iv. Miani Silty Clay Loam. comparatively most favourable soil 27.22±12.81 v. Sarhad Silty Loam Phase. for egg laying followed by Miani 10.02±6.69, Lalian 4.94±3.31 and Rustam 1.57±1.56, Different moistures of Soils respectively. In Pacca Matli. Their was no egg i. Control (0%) laying found. ii. 5% iii. 10% The over all average of egg laying preference of iv. 15% Akk grass hopper in different type of soil revealed v. 20% that Rustam 12.435±5.21 was comparatively vi. 25% favourable soil for egg laying of grass hoper, followed by Pacca 10.44±4.92, whereas the lowest Egg laying preference by the females of G. hopper fecundity was recorded on Lalian with an average 6. The ovipositional preference of grass hopper 01±4.33 respectively. females in different soil types with moisture levels was observed. The egg pods were placed on filter The result of the present studies revealed that the paper with the help of camel hair brush for soil of the Rustam series clay loam containing 0% recording the number of egg. The data thus moisture was most preferable soil with highest egg collected were subjected to statistical analysis laying of Akk grass hopper female 2.14±8.31, mean, standard error and one way analysis of followed by Pacca Matli, 18.74±5.22 and Sarhad variance were worked out according by the data soil 12.68±5.58, but in Miani and Lalian Soil, no was interpreted. egg laying was recorded. The present result are further supported by Ingrisch (1995) who RESULT AND DISCUSSION investigated hatching of eggs, development of The data of comparative egg laying preferences of larval instars and abundance of grass hoppers and Akk grasshopper in soil containing different found that egg laying by grass hoppers was moisture contents of presented in Table-I, the result preferably associated with the soil texture. In 5% revealed that, in 0% moisture content, which was moisture content, the Rustum silty clay loam was treated as control, Rustam Silty loam was found found most preferable soil with the highest most preferable soil with highest egg laying for fecundity of 41.62±9.85 of Akk grass hopper Akk grass hopper female 2014±8.31, followed by females followed by Miani Silty clay loam Pacca Matli 18.74±5.22 and Sarhad soil 12.68±5.58 12.22±7.51, whereas, Sarhad soil remain least but in Miani and Lalian soils no egg laying was favourable for egg laying. These results are little recorded in 5% moisture content, the Rustam Silty contrast with those of Gehrken and Doumbia (1996) clay loam was found most preferable soil with the who have reported more egg laying preference of highest fecundity of 41.62±9.89 of Akk grass grass hopper females of Sandy loam Soils ands hopper females, followed by Miani silty clay loam compared to hard of loam soils. 12.22±7.51 where as Sarhad soil remained least favourable for egg laying for Akk grass hopper Present study further revealed that in 10% moisture, females. Lalian was comparatively most favourable soil with 18.02±8.27 egg laying of Akk grass hopper In 10% moisture, Lalian was comparatively most but on Sarhad soil no egg laying was recorded on favourable soil with 18.02±8.27 for egg laying of the same 15% moisture in soil., while, Singh and Akk grass hopper but on Sarhad soil no egg laying Chaudery (1999) have reported that the grass was recorded on the same moisture. When certain hopper females made false bores in 5, 10, 15 and observations were recorded in 15% moisture 25 percent soil moisture. Egg deposition in 15% content. The female of Akk grass hopper deposited moisture was more in Pacca Matli 23.74±8.20, more eggs in Pacca Matli 23.74±8.20, followed by followed by Sarhad silty loam 6.42±6.41 and Sarhad silty loam 6.42±6.41 and Lalian silty loam Lalian silty loam 3.22±3.22 respectively. Whereas,

Sarhad J. Agric. Vol. 23, No. 4, 2007 1115

in Rustam clay and Miani, no egg laying was an average 6.01±4.33, respectively. The above recorded. These results are partially supported by results are further supported by the finding of Ni et Wohltmann et al , (1996) who reported oviposition al, (2000) who were of the experience that egg preference in sandy loam, where the females can survival and hatching of grass hopper were also easily make holes up to 6 inches. In 20% moisture affected by the soil condition including soil content, the highest fecundity of Akk grass hopper temperature soil water content salt content and soil was found in Miani clay 30.11±13.94, followed by texture Bhatti et al, (1993) reported that the Sarhad 10.88±6.66, Lalian 8.28±5.30, Rustam 5.14 females preferred soil with more that 70% sand for ± 3.28 and lowest numbers of eggs were found in laying eggs some 6 inches deep in soil. Idowu and Pacca Matli 4.02±4.02, respectively. When 25% Akinsete (2001) reported that preferences of egg moisture contained soil was provided to the laying of grass hoppers was mainly associated with females of Akk grass hopper, Sarhad was the moisture available in the soil and type of the comparatively most favourable soil 27.22±12.81 soil. for egg laying, followed by Miani 10.02±6.69, Lalian 4.94±3.31 and Rustum 1.57±1.56 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION respectively. In Pacca Matli no egg laying was It is recommendable that in the season of recorded. The over all average of egg laying copulation and oviposition the fields may be preferences of Akk grass hopper in different types irrigated to break the emergence of nymphs of soil revealed that Rustam was comparatively because the does not prefer egg laying in soil favourable soil 12.54±5.21 for egg laying of grass with greater moisture. hopper, followed by pacca 10.44±4.92, whereas, the lowest fecundity was recorded on Lalian with

Table-I: Egg laying preferences of Akk grass hopper in different type of soil and different % moisture (X ±S.E). Moisture % Soil Control % 5 10 15 20 25 Average

Rustum 20.14±8.31 41.62±9.85 6.25±8.27 0;0. 5.14±3.28 1.57±1.56 12.45±5.21

Lalian 0.0 9.65±5.92 10.02±8.27 3.22±3.22 8.28±5.30 4.94±3.31 6.01±4.33

Pacca 18.74±5.22 5.77±5.75 10.37±6.37 23.72±8.20 4.02±4.02 0.0 10.44±4.92

Miani 0.0 12.22±7.51 7.65±4.77 0.0 30.11±13.94 10.02±6.69 10.00±5.48

Sarhad 12.68±5.58 4.2±4.19 0.0 6.42±6.41 10.88±6.66 27.22±12.81 10.23±5.94

Total 10.31±3.82 14.69±6.64 6.85 ±5.53 6.67±3.56 11.68±6.64 8.75±4.87 9.82±5.17 F = 3.19 T = 4, R=5, P=0.000 (P<0.05)

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