Biology, Morphology and Taxonomy of Lesser Date Moth, Batrachedra Amydraula (Lepidoptera: Batrachedridae) Under Two Different Temperatures
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Pure Appl. Biol., 9(1): 1137-1147, March, 2020 http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2020.90119 Research Article Biology, morphology and taxonomy of Lesser Date Moth, Batrachedra amydraula (Lepidoptera: Batrachedridae) under two different temperatures Faheem Ahmed Jatoi1, Hakim Ali Sahito1,2*, Tasneem Kousar1, Wali Muhammad Mangrio1 and Zafar Hussain Shah1 1. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, SALU-Khairpur-Pakistan 2. Date Palm Research Institute (DPRI), Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur-Pakistan *Corresponding author’s email: [email protected] Citation Faheem Ahmed Jatoi, Hakim Ali Sahito, Tasneem Kousar, Wali Muhammad Mangrio and Zafar Hussain Shah. Biology, morphology and taxonomy of Lesser Date Moth, Batrachedra amydraula (Lepidoptera: Batrachedridae) under two different temperatures. Pure and Applied Biology. Vol. 9, Issue 1, pp1137-1147. http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2020.90119 Received: 12/10/2019 Revised: 31/12/2019 Accepted: 02/01/2020 Online First: 30/01/2020 Abstract The research study was conducted during the summer season and work methodology was based on 5 treatments and 5 replications under corridor room temperature and air-conditioner from egg to adult at DPRI, SALU-Khaipur. The overall mean population of eggs laid (45.4) with eggs fertility (78.83%). The 1st stage instar took (2.78±0.30), 2nd (4.58±0.41), 3rd (4.02±0.33), 4th (5.48±0.41) and 5th (7.54±0.32) days, pupae (10.56) and total developmental days were (38.44). Thus; an adult male longevity (9.24) days and female was (11.00) besides; the total life span of male was observed (47.72) and female (49.61) days under corridor / natural room temperature. Thus; in air-condition room temperature, the first instar stage took (3.84±0.41), second (5.80±0.41), third (5.06±0.42), fourth (6.60±0.30) and fifth (7.86±0.64) with overall mean (27.00) days. The pupae took (11.26), with developmental (38.26) days and the adult male longevity (4.70) and female (8.38) days. The life span of male (45.6) and female was also observed (46.64) days. The minimum egg population laid by a female as compared to corridor room temperature with an overall mean population of fecundity was (15.33) female and fertility (83.14)%. The specimens were separated for proper male and female identification for all morphology and taxonomic characteristics. The sex ratio was found quite same in both temperatures but found fluctuation of day’s consumption in the life cycle. Body length and width measured in micrometers but larvae in millimetres. It is further recommended that the larval stages were the most voracious feeder at that times the management techniques. Keywords: Biology; Fecundity; Fertility; Life span; LDM; SEX ratio Introduction breakfast cereals, sauces, variety of dishes, Dates fruit is gifted fruit by God, used for backing, and confectionery products [1]. the formation of many industrial products This major crop is the oldest domesticated including; sweets, chocolates, salads, for 700 years to up to date in Middle East Published by Bolan Society for Pure and Applied Biology 1137 Jatoi et al. [2]. More than three hundred varieties of ground [10]. Fruits in throughout the world date palm have been cultivated and are infected by several insect pests but date documented in Pakistan. These varieties palm orchards and their fruits are facing consisted genetic divergence and change in certain problems in respect of production their biochemical and morphological because these fruits are damaged by mites, appearance [3]. Oryctes rhinoceros, Batrachedra The origin of the date palm is not well amydraula, Arenipses saabella, lesser date known but little documentation suggests moth, Oli, and Rhynchophorus ferrugineus their origin from Western India and but B. amydranla widely attack cause Mesopotamia [4], and nowadays about seventy percent crops loss [11]. more than five thousand varieties of date The eggs of this pest are light yellow, palm being cultivated in thirty-seven smaller in size, on the surface of the countries of the world [5]. Tunisia, Egypt, immature fruits and flowers they Libya, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran, Sudan, commonly lay their eggs, their pupae are United Arab Emirates, Algeria, and brown-light colored, long and slender Pakistan are top date palm producing shaped [1]. Larvae may feed more than countries [6]. When there is crowding of third portion of fruit after that larvae left trees, mixed cultivars plantation, the first and enter into neighbouring fruit unproductive trees, seedling, poor but during their whole lifetime larvae hits drainage, accumulation of salt, tillage or three to four fruits. Just before the ripening fertilization, insufficient irrigation, lack of larvae attack then left the fruit by leaving disease control and pest control condition like debris [12]. The maximum attack of other weeds and crops, water scarcity occurred in dropped fruits as compared to and soil degradation rely the negative the intact fruits and from the dropped fruits effect on date palm production [7]. Tree insects move to the bunches of the fruits, litters, weeds, shrubs surround the tree are easily moving one fruit to neighboring. supportive in response to the increase of Their larvae take the nourishment on new insect population. An effective program of growing inflorescences through entering at integrated pest management and general the end region of calyx [13]. The main awareness are the sufficient tool to save theme of present works to aware the local date palm orchards and their fruits, weeds growers of this area and due to lack of surround the trees Shrubs, tree litter knowledge about B. amydraula date fruits favored increased the population of insects are severely damaged annually and dates [1]. growers are facing gradually economical The Date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) losses. It is strictly needed to manage severely damaged by several other pests certain strategies and control measures to and mites but Lesser date moth, overcome from the harmful effects of this Batrachedra amydraula. These insect pest. pests harm the date orchards in many Material and methods countries of the world including; Oman, Culture maintenance under laboratory United Arab Emirates, Israel, Libya, Iran, conditions at DPRI, SALU-Khairpur Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq, The damaged containing lesser date moth North Africa, India, Pakistan, Iran, were captured from date palm orchards at Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and most countries district Khairpur and brought in Date Palm of the Middle East [8, 9]. These pests also Research Institute (DPRI), Shah Abdul hit the ripen fruits and after the entrance of Latif University, Khairpur to observe the the pest outer layer of the fruit became biology, morphology and taxonomy radish- brown and dry and infected fruits parameters under two different either become shrink and form bunch like temperatures during, 2018. In this regard, structure or fallen on the surface of the the five treatments were kept and 1138 Pure Appl. Biol., 9(1): 1137-1147, March, 2020 http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2020.90119 replicated 5 times for summer seasons. of lesser date moth were provided fresh The collection of lesser date moth was food semi-dry dates immature fruits. But taken from Aseel date palm variety which during the off-season, the dry dates were is the most prominent variety in our agro- provided on an alternate day up to the ecosystem. The infected dates were kept completion of the larval stage to the under natural occurred corridor conversion into pupae. The pupae release a temperature at 30±2°C and 65±5% (R.H.) yellow silk cocoon around its body, at this and photoperiod of 14:10 (L: D) as light stage food is not given due to inactive and dark in a constant room or corridor feeding behavior. After an adult temperature during in summer cropping emergence; the sex ratio (♂: ♀) was also season. At that time, the second observed and described as in under given experiment was carried out in air condition tables of both temperatures. room temperature 20±2°C and 45±5% Morphology of Lasser date palm under (R.H). Temperature and relative humidity laboratory conditions were checked through the digital After the biological study, the adults of hygrometer kept under Laboratory lesser date moths were anesthetized with conditions. All stages of lesser date moth alcohol and the specimens were separated such as; egg, larvae, pupae, and an adult based on morphological characteristics for were taken through the infested fruits and proper male and female identification visually captured from the orchards, those under laboratory conditions. Having were reared as a maintained culture at separated all stages from egg to adult was laboratory conditions. For morpho- thoroughly examined through the help of a taxonomic characteristics of the pest microscope and mounted for species support of digital camera Lucida was taken identifications. for better measurement and identification. Taxonomy of Lasser date palm under Biology study of Lasser date palm under laboratory conditions laboratory conditions On the basis of taxonomic status such as; Before the biological study, adults of measurement of all stages larvae as; 1st, lesser date moths were separated proper 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th were taken in confirmation of male and female. Latter millimetres (mm), body length of male and on; an alive pair of lesser date moth female, length and width of paired wings, (female and male) were transferred into length of antennae, anterior, median, plastic jars (10 kg) containing dry dates for posterior pairs of legs, male and female mating and egg-laying process. Thus; an eyes length and width, length of thorax, artificial diet (drops of honey adhered on abdominal region, head length and width, stick and glucose absorbed in a cotton size of pre-pupae and pupae were taken in swab) were provided to adults and μm.