International J. Seed Spices 7(1), January 2017:89-90

A new record of burrowing bug, Microporus nigrita (F.) in Rajasthan N. Ram* and V. K. Agrawal** *Department of Agriculture, Govt. of Rajasthan **Network Coordinator and Professor & Head Division of Entomology Rajasthan Agricultural Research Station, Durgapura, SKN AU, Jobner

Seed spices are the most remunerative and important Burrowing bugs belong to family : heteroptera export oriented commodities the arid and semi-arid regions and most of these bugs are black or brown, usually 2-20 of India. About ten per cent of the seed spice production mm long, live deep in the soil and are root feeder. Although is exported in raw as well as value added products realizing the family is regarded as quite primitive, its species foreign exchange. India produces a wide variety of seed possess some derived characters (broad and flattened spices like coriander, cumin, fennel, fenugreek, etc. Seed head, often armed with rows of strong setae or spine, spice crops face numerous biotic and abiotic stresses. broadened and heavily spinose anterior tibae, tarsi reduced Among biotic stress -pests are one of the major or even absent in a few taxa) which make them very well limiting factors for higher production of seed spices. adapted for digging in the ground (Becker, et al., 2000). During roving survey of farmers fields in Gram Panchayat They mostly attack field crops and cereals sometimes Kanoota, Panchayat Samiti Sujangarh, district Churu also fruits and legumes (Schumacher, 1916; Reclaire, (Rajasthan) during 2nd week of November, 2016-17, 1936; Petrucha, 1949; Medvedev et al., 1952; Otten 1956, recorded burrowing bug Microporus nigrita (F.). The Putschkov, 1972). The development of crop plants stops burrowing bug (Fig.1) was observed on fennel, fenugreek when 6 - 10 individuals are found in 1m2 area (Petrucha, and wild weed species of Chenopodium. The percent 1949). It is generally found in sandy area and many occur seedling mortality caused by this pest was more than up to 15 cm deep at the roots of weeds and grasses. The 50 percent in fennel, 30 per cent in fenugreek and 15 per early root damage caused by burrowing bug causes cent in Chenopodium sp. The species was identified at seedling mortality and ultimately reduce the yield and Division of Entomology, IARI, New Delhi. This species commercial value of the crop. was described from J & K State by Bhagat (2015) under Acknowledgement systematic checklist of the valid species/genera under The authors are highly thankful to Dr. Kolla Sreedevi, pentatomoidea of J & K state. Principle Scientist, Division of Entomology, IARI, New Delhi for identifying the pest species. References Becker, M., Schaefer, C. W. and Jerzy, A. L. 2000. Burrower Bugs (Cydnidae) in Heteroptera of Economic importance ed. By Schaefer C.W. and Panizzi A. R. CRC press. 405-419. Bhagat, R. C. 2015.An updated annotated checklist and biodiversity of pentatomoidea bugs (heteroptera: ) of jammu, kashmir and ladakh himalayas (India). International Research J. Natural and Applied Sciences, 2(4):125-139. Fig 1. Adult of Microporus nigrita

*Corresponding author email: [email protected] International Journal of Seed Spices

Medvedev, S. I., Treml, A. G. and Szapiro, D. S. 1952. bugs, NacekomyjeiklestschiVrediteliselckohozja- Fauna vrediteleiagrolesomeliorativnychpito- stvennyhkultur ,1: 222-262. mnikorvlesostepnoi I stepnoizonachUkrainy, Reclaire, A. 1936. Zevervolg op de naamlijst der in Zastch. Lesonas. Ured. Bolez. 47-60. Nederland en het omliggendgebidwaargenomen- Otten, E. 1956. Heteroptera, wanzen, halbfluger, pp. wantsen ( :Heteroptera ). EntomoloBer., 1-149 in H. Blunck (ed), Tierischeschadlinge an 210: 243-260. Nutzpflanzen 2 Teil3. Lieferung, Heteroptera, Schumacher, F. 1961. Die faunistischen und Homoptera I. Teil. P. Parey Berlin, Germany, biologischenverhaltnisse der 399 pp. einheimischencydniden. Dtsch. Entomolo. Z. 210- Petrucha, O. I. 1949. Schkidnikibobovychroslin. 213 Zaechrdiborobti biz nimi. Vid-vo KDU. 28-39. Received : October 2016; Revised : November 2016; Putschkov, V. G. 1972. Hemiptera (Heteroptera) – true Accepted : December 2016.

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