Indian Journal of Entomology 83(2021) Online published Ref. No. e20145 DoI No.: 10.5958/0974-8172.2020.00192.3

DIVERSITY OF FLORAL FROM WESTERN GHATS OF KARNATAKA

P Roselin*, Kuldeep Sharma1 and R R Rachana2

Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, V C farm Mandya, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru 571405 Karnataka 1Department of Entomology, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur 313001 Rajasthan 2Division of Germplasm Collection and Characterization, ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Resources, Bengaluru 560024 Karnataka *Email: [email protected] (corresponding author)

ABSTRACT

The present study revealed the presence of 12 species of thrips associated with 25 species of flowering plants from Western Ghats of Karnataka. The observation showed that 8 thrips species belonged to suborder, Terebrantia viz., Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom), Neohydatothrips samayunkur Kudo, Stenchaetothrips faurei (Bhatti), Thrips florum (Bagnall), Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan), Thrips palmi Karny, Thrips tabaci Lindeman and Trichromothrips arorai Bhatti and four thrips species suborder belong to the Tubulifera viz., Thrips parvispinus (Karny), Haplothrips ganglbaueri Schmutz, Karnyothrips melaleucus (Bagnall) and Xylaplothrips ligs Ananthakrishnan and Jagadish. During the study, the density of thrip flower ranged from 1.24 to 9.20 and varied with the thrips species, and families of associated host plants. The study showed the presence of two abundant species viz., H. ganglbaueri and T. arorai from many of the host plants. A species of quarantine importance , T. parvispinus was also observed.

Key words: Thysanoptera, survey, species diversity, faunistics, abundance, density, flowers

Thrips are relatively small , belong to the exist there. Keeping this in view, the present study was order Thysanoptera, and subdivided into two suborders undertaken in Western Ghats of Karnataka to know the viz., Terebrantia and Tubulifera. Their body size ranges species diversity, abundance and density of thrips on from 0.5 to 15 mm in length and have fast growth and different floral plants. breeding potential (Ananthakrishnan, 1969). Many thrips species are pests of commercially important MATERIALS AND METHODS crops including ornamental plants. Few species serve as The present study was undertaken in the Western vectors for viruses that cause plant disease, especially Ghats of Karnataka from different host plants during of tospoviruses that cause serious crop losses (Mound, flower blooming winter season of 2016-17. A roving 1996). Some thrips species are beneficial as pollinators, survey was conducted in Puttur and Coorg districts. A and few species are predators of other insects or mites. total of 116 species of plants were observed. From each Thrips were earlier considered as minor insect pests plant species five flowers were collected. The collected on horticultural crops but nowadays are gaining more flowers from each plant, were immediately placed into importance as these cause economic losses (Dahiya et a labelled polyethylene bag. Later flowers were tapped al., 1995). In India, floriculture is gaining importance against a white sheet of paper to dislodge the thrips. The and Karnataka is having large area under floriculture. thrips that fell onto the white paper were individually However, flowers are affected by many insect pests collected using a fine paint brush and transferred into and causing economic losses to the growers (Butani, vials filled with thrips preservative media (10 ml of 1974). In India, a total of 739 species of thrips under 90% alcohol + 10 ml of glacial acetic acid + 0.1 ml 259 genera are listed, of which 309 species in 116 genera of Triton-x) (Bhatti, 1999). These vials were labelled belong to the suborder Terebrantia and 430 species in with name of host, location and date of collection for 143 genera belong to suborder Tubulifera (Tyagi and identification and thrips populations was assessed. Kumar, 2016). The Western Ghats of India is one of the eight hot spots of biological diversity. Hence, it is For identification, thrips were mounted on slides very likely that many undiscovered insect species also following the method adopted by Ananthakrishnan and 2 Indian Journal of Entomology 83(2021) Online published Ref. No. e20145

Sen (1980). Each specimen was taken carefully with This study revealed the occurrence of F. schultzei on fine camel hair brush from thrips preservative media on Gloriosa superba (Colchicaceae) and Hibiscus vitifolius a slide. The specimen was cut at the abdominal region (Malvaceae); and K. melaleucus on litter. In the present using a fine needle to remove the internal contents of study, N. samayunkur was observed on Justica umbrosa the body, later these were placed in 5% NaOH (For (Acanthaceae). Tillekaratne et al. (2011) also reported the suborder- Terebrantia, 1 hr and for suborder- Tubulifera, occurrence of N. samayunkur on Tagetes erecta; and S. 2 hr). The specimens were then transferred to distilled faurei was on Wedelia spp. (Asteraceae). However, Singh water for 30 min and then dehydrated with different and Varatharajan (2013) also observed S. faurei on rice alcohol concentrations: 50, 70, 90 and 100% for 5 min seedlings. The species T. arorai was recorded on flowers each. Later specimens were mounted on a slide with a of Leucaena leucocephala (Fabaceae). But, Maisnam coverslip in a drop of Canada balsam mountant. The and Varatharajan (2015) reported T. arorai on leaves. slides were dried and labelled with location, date of The species, T. hawaiiensis, T. palmi, T. parvispinus, T. collection and host name. These slides were sent to florum and T. tabaci in the present study. These results ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources are in line with the findings of Balou et al. (2014) who (NBAIR), Bengaluru for the identification. All the thrips reported that T. hawaiiensis, T. palmi, T. parvispinus, T. species collected were taxonomically identified up to florumand T. tabaci were highly polyphagous. Maisnam suborder, family, and species level at NBAIR. and Varatharajan (2015) showed the occurrence of 108 species from 58 plant species belonging to 31 families RESULTS AND DISCUSSION from the biodiversity rich Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary The diversity, abundance and density of thrips (Arunachal Pradesh). They also reported H. ganglbaueri in relation to flowering plant species recorded from as occurring generally on different flowers and T. Western Ghats of Karnataka are presented here. During arorai on leaves. Similarly, Tillekaratne et al. (2011) the survey, 116 plant species were observed, of which also observed H. ganglbaueri on flowers of Celosia 25 plant species showed the presence of thrips (Table argentia (Amaranthaceae), Dactyloctenium aegyptium 1). Of these, 20 species were identified and five species and Eleusine indica (Poaceae). could not be identified. The flowers that showed the Among these, most abundant were H. ganglbaueri presence of thrips were viz., Acacia auriculiformis Benth, Allamanda cathartica L., Brugmansia fleurs, and T. arorai; moderately abundant ones were F. Calliandra spp., Caesalpinia pulcherrima L., Carica schultzei, K. melaleucus, N. samayunkur, S. faurei, T. papaya L., Cassia spp., Cosmos spp., Crotolaria florum, T. hawaiiensis, T. parvispinusand T. tabaci, and spp., Clerodendrum speciosum Dombrain, Gloriosa the least abundant were T. palmi and X. ligs (Table 1). superba L., Hedychium coronarium J.Koenig, Similar to the present study, Tillekaratne et al. (2011) Impatiens balsamina L., Jasminum multiflorum reported the abundance of T. palmi and H. gowdeyi as (Burm. F.) Andrews, Justica umbrosa Benth, Leucaena the most widely distributed. However, Childers and leucocephala Lam, Mangifera indica L., Pentas carnea Nakahara (2006) observed that T. hawaiiensis occurred (Forssk.) Deflers, Spilanthes spp. and Wedelia spp. in less numbers on citrus vines. The present study Among these, there were 12 species of thrips identified found an important species of quarantine importance, viz., Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom), Neohydatothrips T. parvispinus, which is a serious pest on a number of samayunkur Kudo, Stenchaetothrips faurei (Bhatti), crops, and its occurrence had been reported first by Thrips florum(Bagnall) , Thrips hawaiiensis (Morgan), Tyagi et al., (2015) on papaya from Bangalore. Thrips palmi Karny, Thrips tabaci Lindeman and The density of species/ flower given in Table 2 Trichromothrips arorai Bhatti belonged to the reveal that the maximum one was of T. tabaci (9.30 suborder, which Terebrantia and four species viz., thrips/ flower) on M. indica (Anacardiaceae), which Thrips parvispinus (Karny), Haplothrips ganglbaueri was followed 6.68 thrips/ flower on H. coronarium Schmutz, Karnyothrips melaleucus (Bagnall) and (Zingiberaceae). On plants, A. auriculiformis, C. Xylaplothrips ligs Ananthakrishnan and Jagadish from pulcherrima, Calliandra spp. (Fabaceae), T. tabaci, suborder Tubulifera (Table 1). T. florum, T. hawaiiensis and T. arorai were recorded The present study of thrips in relation with their host @ 5.60 thrips/ flower. Flowers of C. speciosum plants can be compared with similar studies conducted (Lamiaceae) were inhabited by K. melaleucus (5.60 by Tillekaratne et al. (2011), who collected 72 species thrips/ flower); and T. hawaiiensis (4.64 thrips/ in 45 genera from 324 plant species in 83 families. flower) was observed on the flowers of J. multiflorum Diversity of floral thrips from Western Ghats of Karnataka 3 P Roselin et al.

(Oleaceae). Flowers of B. fleurs (Solanaceae) had T. X. ligs occurred @ 1.80 thrips/ flower on the flowers parvispinus (4.52 thrips/ flower); andN. samayunkur @ of five host plants that could not be identified. The 4.22/ flower onJ. umbrosa (Acanthaceae).The speceis present results corroborate with those of Sanjta (2014) H. ganglbaueri, T. florum, T. parvispinus, T. tabaci and on diversity of thrips on ornamental plants viz., T.

Table 1. List of thrips observed from flowers of plants from Western Ghats, Karnataka S. Plant Family Scientific Common name Scientific name Abundance Sub order Family No. name 1. Anacardiaceae Mangifera Mango Thrips tabaci + + Terebrantia Thripidae indica 2. Acanthaceae Justica Brazilian plume Neohydatothrips + + Terebrantia Thripidae umbrosa samayunkur 3. Apocynaceae Allamanda Golden trumpet Thrips tabaci + + Terebrantia Thripidae cathartica 4. Asteraceae Cosmos spp. Cosmos Haplothrips + + + Tubulifera Spilanthes spp. ganglbaueri Wedelia spp. Spilanthes Haplothrips + + + Tubulifera Phlaeothripidae ganglbaueri Creeping-oxeyes Stenchaetothrips + + Terebrantia Thripidae faurei 5. Balsaminaceae Impatiens Balsam Thrips palmi + Terebrantia Thripidae balsamina 6. Caesalpinaceae Cassia spp. Senna Thrips florum + + Terebrantia Thripidae 7. Caricaceae Carica Papaya Thrips tabaci + + Terebrantia Thripidae papaya 8. Colchicaceae Gloriosa Glory lilly Frankliniella + + Terebrantia Thripidae superba schultzei 9. Fabaceae Acacia Earpod wattle Thrips tabaci + + Terebrantia Thripidae auriculiformis Caesalpinia Peacock flower Thrips florum + + Terebrantia Thripidae pulcherrima Crotolaria Sunn hemp Thrips + + Terebrantia Thripidae spp. hawaiiensis Calliandra Powder puff Thrips florum + + Terebrantia Thripidae spp. Leucaena River tamarind Trichromothrips + + + Terebrantia Thripidae leucocephala arorai 10. Lamiaceae Clerodendrum Bagflower Karnyothrips + + Tubulifera Phlaeothripidae speciosum melaleucus 11. Oleaceae Jasminum Indian jasmine Thrips + + Terebrantia Thripidae multiflorum hawaiiensis 12. Rubiaceae Pentas carnea Pentas Thrips florum + + Terebrantia Thripidae 13. Solanaceae Brugmansia Angel’s trumpet Thrips + + Terebrantia Thripidae fleurs parvispinus 14. Zingiberaceae Hedychium White ginger lily Thrips tabaci + + Terebrantia Thripidae coronarium Unidentified plant species 15. Spp. 1 - - Haplothrips + + + Tubulifera Phlaeothripidae ganglbaueri 16. Spp. 2 - - Thrips + + Terebrantia Thripidae parvispinus 17. Spp. 3 - - Thrips tabaci + + Terebrantia Thripidae 18. Spp. 4 - - Haplothrips + + + Tubulifera Phlaeothripidae ganglbaueri 19. Spp. 5 - - Xylaplothrips + Tubulifera Phlaeothripidae ligs Least abundance: +: 1-2 thrips/flower, moderately abundance + +: 3-5 thrips/flower, most abundance + + +: >6 thrips/flower recorded. 4 Indian Journal of Entomology 83(2021) Online published Ref. No. e20145

Table 2. Density of thrips/ flower of plants from Western Ghats S. No. Plant family Species of thrips observed Mean ± SD 1. Anacardiaceae Thrips tabaci 9.30 ± 1.20 2. Acanthaceae Neohydatothrips samayunkur 4.22 ± 0.74 3. Apocynaceae Thrips tabaci 2.00 ± 0.15 4. Asteraceae Haplothrips ganglbaueri, Stenchaetothrips faurei 3.20 ± 4.65 5. Balsaminaceae Thrips palmi 1.24 ± 0.43 6. Caesalpinaceae Thrips florum 3.08 ± 1.43 7. Caricaceae Thrips tabaci 2.50 ± 0.35 8. Colchicaceae Frankliniella schultzei 3.10 ± 0.23 9. Fabaceae Thrips tabaci, T. florum, T. hawaiiensis, Trichromothrips arorai 5.60 ± 3.36 10. Lamiaceae Karnyothrips melaleucus 5.60 ± 0.60 11. Oleaceae Thrips hawaiiensis 4.64 ± 0.86 12. Rubiaceae Thrips florum 1.60 ± 0.89 13. Solanaceae Thrips parvispinus 4.52 ± 1.10 14. Zingiberaceae Thrips tabaci 6.68 ± 0.85 15. Unidentified plant Haplothrips ganglbaueri, Thrips florum, T. parvispinus, 1.80 ± 0.83 families Thrips tabaci, Xylaplothrips ligs tabaci (10%), T. florum (5%), T. hawaiiensis (3.33%), Bhatti J S. 1999. Notes on Thysanoptera. Thrips 1: 6-9. N. samayunkur (3.33%), Haplothrips spp. (1.67%), Butani D K. 1974. Pests damaging roses in India and their control. Frankliniella spp. (1.67%) and T. palmi (3.33%). Pesticides 8(12): 40-42. Childers C C, Nakahara S. 2006. Thysanoptera (thrips) within citrus The present study at the Western Ghats of Karnataka orchards in Florida: Species distribution, relative and seasonal abundance within trees, and species on vines and ground cover revealed the presence of 12 species of thrips under plants. Journal of Insect Science 6(45): 1-9. two suborders from 25 plant species. Of these, eight Dahiya K K, Lakra R K, Ombir. 1995. Studies on thrips infestation during species belonged to the suborder Terebrantia and four reproductive stage of mango. Haryana Journal of Horticultural species belonged to the suborder Tubulifera. The survey Sciences 24: 239-241. revealed the presence of most abundant species viz., H. Maisnam S, Varatharajan R. 2015. Diversity of thrips (Insecta: ganglbaueri and T. arorai and a species of quarantine Thysanoptera) fauna in a protected area: A case study of the Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh. Conceptual Frame Work importance T. parvispinus from Western Ghats. and Innovations in Agroecology and Food Science. pp. 1-5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mound L A. 1996. The Thysanoptera vector species of tospoviruses. Acta Horticulturae 431: 298-309. The authors thank the ICAR- National Bureau of Sanjta S. 2014. Studies on thrips fauna and their associated natural enemies on different crops under mid hill conditions of Himachal Agricultural Insect Resources (NBAIR), Bengaluru for Pradesh, M.Sc. (Agri.) Thesis, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar identification of thrips and Department of Agricultural University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Entomology, College of Agriculture, Mandya, University Singh H C, Varatharajan R. 2013. Thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) fauna of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka for of Kaziranga National Park, Assam. Current Science 105(9): providing the necessary facilities. 1219-1223. Tillekaratne K, Edirisinghe J P, Gunatilleke C V S, Karunaratne W A I P. REFERENCES 2011. Survey of thrips in Sri Lanka: a checklist of thrips species, their distribution and host plants. Ceylon Journal of Science 40(2): Ananthakrishnan T N. 1969. Indian Thysanoptera. Council of Scientific 89-108. and Industrial Research, Zoological Monograph 1: 1-171. Tyagi K, Kumar V, Singha D, Chakraborty R. 2015. Morphological Ananthakrishnan T N, Sen S. 1980. Taxonomy of Thysanoptera. and DNA barcoding evidence for invasive pest thrips, Thrips Handbook series no.1 Zoological survey of India Kolkata pp. 9. parvispinus (Thripidae: Thysanoptera), newly recorded from India. Journal of Insect Science 15(1): 1-4. Balou M M, Tong X L, Chen X X. 2014. Thrips species diversity in urban green spaces of Hangzhou (Zhejiang Province), China. Journal of Tyagi K, Kumar V. 2016. Thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) of India-an Entomological and Acarological Research 46: 1828. updated checklist. Halteres 7: 64-98.

(Manuscript Received: May, 2020; Revised: June, 2020; Accepted: June, 2020; Online Published: November, 2020) Online published (Preview) in www.entosocindia.org Ref. No. 20145