Morphology and bionomics of Phycodes radiata Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera: Brachodidae) from New Delhi, India Rajesh Kumar & V.V. Ramamurthy Distribution, host range and taxonomic characters of adults and immatures of the fig leaf roller, Phycodes radiata are described in detail on the basis of material from India. Ficus benjamina var. nuda is reported as a new hostplant from New Delhi, India. The larvae were observed to cause appreciable damage to ornamental hedges. R. Kumar*, V.V. Ramamurthy, Network Project on Insect Biosystematics, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa Campus, New Delhi 110012 (India) Introduction Materials and methods The fig leaf roller, Phycodes radiata had been reported Field collected eggs were reared under laboratory as a minor and sporadic pest of Ficus species, family: conditions. Samples of all life stages were kept for Moraceae (recorded from Ficus glomerata, F. religiosa, morphological studies. Voucher specimens have been F. carica, F. bengalensis, F. indica and F. tisela) from deposited at the National Pusa Collection, Division Myanmar, Sri Lanka and parts of India (Fletcher of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Insti- 1917, 1919, Beeson 1941, Wadhi & Batra 1964, tute, New Delhi, India. Nair et al. 1976). Bajwa & Gul (2000) reported Measurements of eggs, larvae, pupae, and chaetotaxy P. radiata on Paulownia sp. (Scrophulariaceae) from of fifth instar larvae were recorded using a Nikon Peshawar, Pakistan. All the preserved specimens SMZ10 stereo zoom microscope. in National Pusa Collection (NPC) at Division of Larval instars were collected and relaxed in warm Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute water and preserved in 70% alcohol. The larvae were (IARI), New Delhi (India) were studied and we boiled in 10% KOH for 1hr at 90°C, and afterwards found that P. radiata was also reported on Mimu- cleared of debris and processed and slide mounted in sops elengi L. (Sapotaceae). The larvae of P. radiata glycerol (Hinton 1946, Peterson 1962). were observed on the leaves of ornamental fig, For study of the genitalia, abdomens were detached F. benjamina var. nuda for the first time in 2008, and and boiled in 10% KOH for 20 min at 90°C in Dry 2009 in different parts of New Delhi on ornamental Block Heizgerät -28000 then transferred to glacial hedge plant causing extensive damage. Realizing its acetic acid for 5 minutes for clearing off debris, significance, extensive studies on its morphology and and processed thereafter using standard procedures nature of damage were undertaken and the results according to Holloway & Bradley (1987) and stored are presented herein. in ethanol. Photographs were taken with a Leica DFC-290 camera attached on a Leica MZ16A microscope and Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 153: 15–24, Figs 1–59, Table 1. [ISSN 0040-7496]. http://www.nev.nl/tve © 2010 Nederlandse Entomologische Vereniging. Published 1 June 2010. Downloaded from Brill.com09/30/2021 12:31:23PM * Corresponding author via free access 16 Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, volume 153, 2010 1 3 2 5 4 6 7 8 Figs 1–8. – 1, Egg; 2, Egg after emerging the larva; 3, Damage plant; 4, Larvae feeding inside the web on leaves; 5, Adult on host plant; 6, Adult feeding on bitter gourd flower (Momordica charantia); 7, Enlarged view of feeding; 8, Adult feeding on bitter gourd flower (Trichosantes anguina). Downloaded from Brill.com09/30/2021 12:31:23PM via free access Kumar: Morphology and bionomics of Phycodes radiata 17 9 11 12 10 13 14 15 16 17 18 0.005mm 19 20 21 22 0.01mm 0.02mm 0.005mm 0.005mm 23 24 25 26 Figs 9–26. – 9, Fifth instar of larva; 10 (a-f), Ist to Vth instar; 11, Head (frontal view); 12, Head (lateral view); 13, Labrum (dorsal view); 14, Labrum (ventral view); 15, Prothorax; 16, Mesothorax; 17, First abdominal segment; 18, Sixth abdominal segment; 19, Seventh abdominal segment; 20, Eight abdominal segment; 21, Ninth abdominal segment; 22, Labrum photograph; 23, Head (ventral view); 24, Showing mentum, submentum; 25, Thoracic leg; 26, Proleg. Downloaded from Brill.com09/30/2021 12:31:23PM via free access 18 Tijdschrift voor Entomologie, volume 153, 2010 software Leica Application Suit 2.8.2. Heppner Antenna filiform, reaching upto half of costa of fore & Duckworth (1981), Kallies (2004), Diakonoff, wing and covered with grey scales (Fig. 43). (1986) and Comstock-Needham (1898–1899) for Legs covered with white and grey scales. Epiphysis terminology have been followed. Illustrations were present on fore leg tibia (Figs 46–47). One pair of made by using a drawing tube attached to a Nikon tibial spur present on middle leg and two pair of tib- SMZ10 Stereo Zoom microscope and finalized in ial spur present on hind leg (Figs 48–51). At the mid- plate (prepared in 600 pixels/inch) using Adobe dle of mid and hind tibia 2–2 sharp spine present. At Photoshop Elements 2.0. For field photography a the end of middle and hind tibia some sharp black Sony DSC R1 10.3 mega pixel camera was used. and white spine equal to tibial spur present (Figs 49, The observation data for life cycle were taken in the 51). The tarsus of fore, middle and hind legs consist laboratory at ambient temperature. of two rows of black spines. Thorax and abdomen dorsally covered with grey scales, on abdomen yellow scales row present and Results covered with grey scales, thorax and abdomen ven- Phycodes radiata Ochsenheimer trally covered with white scales (Figs 38–39). Abdo- men black with five fine yellow bands across the dor- Chimaera radiata Ochsenheimer, 1808: 5 (India) sum making it distinct. Wings Forewing blackish with darker markings Material examined. 1?, Tarnab, Peshawar, across, hind wing dark brown with yellow markings viii.1917 leg. Mujtaba; 1?, Ficus carica, Peshawar, on the margins and centre (Fig. 5). 07.vii.1937, leg. F. Haq; 1?, Ficus carica, Tarnab, Wing venation Forewing Sc vein arising from discal Peshawar viii.1917, leg. Mujtaba; 1?, Ficus religiosa cell. R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, separate, but R3 originating leaves, Pusa, Bihar 04.x.1921, leg. Rangi; f, Ficus from accessory cell near apex of discal cell; M1, M2, glomerata, Pusa, Bihar, 21.ii.1917, leg. Haq; 1?, M3 present and originate from the discal cell sepa- Mansari (Mimusops elengi), Pusa, Bihar, 12.vii.1916, rately; Cu1a, Cu1b present, separate arising from the leg. Haq.; f, Ficus religiosa, Pusa, Bihar, 07.ix.1908, lower angle of discal cell; CuP not present. 1A+2A leg. R.D.D.; f, Ficus religiosa, Pusa, Bihar, 29.v.1907, fused and 3A not present (Fig. 44). Hindwing Sc+R1 leg. R.D.K.; 1?, Ficus glomerata, Pusa, Bihar, vein present and anastomosed with discal cell by 19.v.1906 leg. A.H.; 1?, Pusa Bihar, 24.v.1907; a small vertical vein. M1, M2, M3 present; M1 and 1?, Wild fig. Pusa, Bihar, 28.iv.1906, leg. Y.R.C.; M2, originates separately form discal cell, but M3 1?, Ficus sp. Hagari, 19.iv.1903, leg. Y.R.; 1?, Gur- stalked with Cu1a at the origin; Cu1b present and daspur, Punjab, 19.viii.1911, leg. T.B.F.; 1?, Ficus originates separately; CuP present at tornal margin carica, Punjab, 08.viii.1906, leg. V.N.S.; 1?, Ficus and extended as fold. 1A+2A fused and 3A present bengalensis, Pusa, Bihar, 14.vii.1927, leg. Rangi; separately (Fig. 45). 1?, Ficus bengalensis, Pusa, Bihar, 16.vii.1927, leg. Male genitalia: Uncus although weakly sclerotized Rangi; f, F. religiosa, Pusa, Bihar, 13.viii.1921, leg. clearly visible, membranous, reduced, appears small Rangi; f, Ficus relegiosa, Pusa, Bihar, 04.ix.1927, leg. finger like transparent between gnathos; tegumen Haq; 1?, Ficus religiosa, Pusa, Bihar, 24.v.1925, developed; gnathos present, less sclerotized, bear leg. Rangi; 1?, Ficus glomerata, Pusa, Bihar, hairs; valvae symmetrical bifurcate at the apex, con- 30.vi.1931, leg. Rangi Coll.; 20?, 12/, Ficus sisting a sclerotized spine upto apex of valvae; vincu- benjamina var. nuda, IARI, New Delhi 05.viii.2008, lum well developed; saccus present, partially devel- 08.viii.2008, 11.viii.2008, 20.viii.2008, 15.vii.2009, oped; aedeagus short and stout; cornutus absent 02.08.2009, 08.08.2009, leg. Rajesh and (Fig. 52–57). Vishal. Female genitalia: Anal papillae long and covered with setae and hairs; ostium symmetrical, extending to Description the middle; anterior apophyses longer than posterior Alar expanse: Male 20.43 mm ± 0.58 (n=23), Female apophyses, and reaching upto corpus bursae; ductus 24.27 mm ± 0.90 (n=11) bursae long, narrow and less sclerotized; corpus bur- Head with frons smooth scaled (Fig. 40); haustel- sae membranous spherical with single signum; sig- lum naked and well developed (Fig. 41); maxillary num consists of triangular shaped sclerotized struc- palpi obsolete; labial palpus three segmented, short, tures; appendix bursae present (Fig. 58–59). upcurved (Fig. 40); first and second segment broad, Immature stages long and covered with white flat scales; third seg- Chaetotaxy – V instar larva. Head hypognathus; ment small and covered with blackish-grey scales; frontoclypeus to ½ distances from labrum to epicra- ocellus large and clearly visible (Fig. 42). nial notch; stemata in trapezoid with 3 pairs of Downloaded from Brill.com09/30/2021 12:31:23PM via free access Kumar: Morphology and bionomics of Phycodes radiata 19 Table 1. Measurements and developmental period of the life stages of Phycodes radiata. Measurements (mm) Developmental period Mean ± SE Life stages Length Breadth Length Breadth No. of eggs 3.01 ± 2.11 head capsule head capsule /leaf (n=100) Mean ± SE Mean ± SE Mean ± SE Mean ± SE % Hatching 84.90 Eggs (n=53) 0.35 ± 0.01 0.08