Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(3): 838-843 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Diversity and economic status of Lepidopteran JEZS 2017; 5(3): 838-843 © 2017 JEZS insect-pest on two major varieties of mango Received: 28-03-2017 Accepted: 29-04-2017 BR Soumya BR Soumya, Abraham Verghese and PD Kamala Jayanthi Ph.D Scholar, Department of Life Science (Zoology), Centre for Abstract Post Graduate Studies in The present research was undertaken to study the diversity and economic status of Lepidopteran insect- Sciences, Jain University, pest on two major varieties of mango viz., Totapuri and Alphonso during 2014-15 in mango orchards of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR). In this study biodiversity of lepidopterans on Abraham Verghese mango ecosystem, there were a total of 13 lepidopteran species recorded. In both the varieties, Orthaga GPS Institute of Agricultural exvinacea, Chlumetia transversa, Dudua aprobola, Anarsia sp. and Nanguna sp., were the serious Management, Peenya, Lepidopterans both on vegetative and reproductive parts of the tree. However, on the basis of the level of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India infestation, D. aprobola, which damage both tender leaves and new panicles proved to be the most serious Lepidopteran pest of mango. PD Kamala Jayanthi Division of Entomology and Keywords: Mangifera indica, Alphonso, Totapuri, economic status Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, 1. Introduction Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Mango is a fleshy stone fruit belonging to the family Anacardiaceae, genus Mangifera [1] (Mukherji, 1958) . Although India is the world’s leading producer of mango, the country’s [2] productivity is lower than that of China (Ahuja et al., 2011) . One of the causes for low productivity in India may be insect pests. About 400 species of insects, 17 species of mites and 26 species of nematodes are known to infest mango worldwide, of which more than 250 species are recorded as pest and 188 species have been reported from India (Tandon and [3, 4] Verghese 1985: Pena et al., 1998) . The distribution of key pests varies from region to region within India. Most of the insect pest belongs to the orders Diptera, Hemiptera and Lepidoptera and several secondary pests and a large number of occasional pests pose serious threat to mango production (Verghese, 1998) [5]. Among the major mango producing states, Karnataka records a productivity of 9.7 t/ha, which [6] is higher than the national average (7.3 t/ha) (Anonymous, 2014) . The state is potential to increase mango productivity however the lepidopterans are one among the several obstructers for its growth. These pests were less significant in the past but their diversity and abundance have increased in recent years owing to rapid change in the agro-ecosystem and the climate (Pena et al., 1998) [4]. Damage to mango inflorescence by a complex of Lepidopteran pests was reported from [7] Karnataka (Verghese and Jayanthi, 1999) . Such infestation affects flowering-related variables that eventually determine yield, extent of flowering, flower retention and fruit set. Many inflorescence caterpillars are reported from mango are Eucrostus sp., Argyroploce aprobola Meyrick and Euproctis fraterna (Moore) (Kannan et. al. 2002) [8]. The caterpillars create webs of leaves, cut the stalks of flowers, gathering the flowers into a ball and continue feeding within the webbed leaves, completing their lifecycle within the inflorescence (Chowdhury, 2015) [9]. As a result, yields are lowered by 20-40% (Verghese and Jayanthi, 1999) [7]. These caterpillars have mostly shifted from leaves to the inflorescence (Abdullah and Shamsulaman, 2008) [10]. An invasive Lepidopteran is the mango fruit borer Citripestis eutraphera (Meyrick) mainly infest the immature fruit by scrapping its surface and then bores into the fruit and to continue Correspondence feeding, arresting its growth (Anonymous, 2015) [11]. BR Soumya Mango being a seasonal crop, the pest scenario also changes with the season. Most of the Ph. D Scholar, Department of Lepidopterans tend to flourish in mango orchards. To devise effective ways to control the pests Life Science (Zoology), Centre for Post Graduate Studies in and to safeguard the health of the agricultural environment at the same time, the present Sciences, Jain University, investigation sought to study the diversity of Lepidopteran on mango and to assess their Bengaluru, Karnataka, India economic status. ~ 838 ~ Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2. Materials and Methods initiation began. Fig. 5 and 6 showing folding of mango The diversity of mango Lepidopterans and their mode of leaves due to D. aprobola and larva of the same respectively. damage were observed in the mango orchards of the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Hessaraghatta, 3.1.3 Shoot borer (Chlumetia transversa) Bangalore, India, from July 2014 to June 2015 to record the A major pest in mango nurseries is the shoot borer; nearly distribution of mango lepidopteran insects associated with the 40% of the damage to tender shoots (new flushes during Alphonso and Totapuri varieties of mango along with their September and October) is due to this pest. The caterpillars mode of damage. The orchards were sampled once a week bored into the shoot bud and the axis of the inflorescence, and damage by Lepidopterans on ten randomly selected tree developed within, exited through the midrib to bore into the of each variety was assessed visually and recorded on the ten growing region of shoots, and tunnels downwards through randomly selected trees/variety for the study period. them. A clear sign of infestation was seen with presence of Infestation by Lepiodpterans on different parts of the tree was excreta in and around the holes and if the infestation was recorded by recording the number of infested shoots or severe, wilted shoots can be seen. Fig. 3 showing larva of C. inflorescence or fruits in each direction (north, east, south and transversa and their infestation. west). To understand the Lepidopteran complex, immature stages (larvae) of the insects were collected and reared upto 3.1.4 Leaf miner (Acrocercops syngramma) the adult stage. These specimens were labelled and sent for Another Lepidopteran pest in mango nurseries is the leaf identification to the Division of Entomology, Indian miner. The tiny caterpillars of which formed tunnels within Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) New Delhi and the the epidermis of leaves and later formed blister-like patches corresponding specimens were dry-preserved as voucher on them. As the leaves matured, the patches dry up and specimens at IIHR. formed large holes in the leaves. On average one leaf houses Each Lepidopteran population was tabulated direction-wise three to four larvae could be seen. The infestation was from and from this the mean population per tree was calculated. October to December and Totapuri was more susceptible than According to level of infestation by the mango lepidopteran Alphonso. Fig. 2 showing mines on tender mango leaves by on particular mango parts in each months were analysed and A. syngramma scored as maximum observed population (++), lowest population observed (+) and no population observed (-). To 3.1.5 Leaf feeder (Penicillaria jocosatrix) calculate economic status of each Lepidopterans in both The infestation of Penicillaria jocosatrix peaked mostly in vegetative and reproductive stage on mango ecosystem, mean May. The caterpillar fed on tender leaves, which looked as population of each Lepidopterans were calculated though they have been grazed upon. Fig. 7 showing mango individually. The data were ranged from major (>10) to miner leaves damaged by P. jocosatrix. (<10) and classified their status. 3.1.6 Leaf and flower feeder (Porthesia scintillans) 3. Results Porthesia scintillans damaged both tender leaves and the A total of 13 species of Lepidopteran were recorded, the inflorescence. Fig. 4 showing larva of P. scintillans details of which are given below along with the effect of each species on the mango plants. 3.1.7 Leaf feeder (Thalassodes quadraria and Perixera illepidaria) 3.1. 1 Leaf webber (Orthaga exvinacea) Thalassodes quadraria and Perixera illepidaria are The leaf webber is one of the causes of low productivity in commonly referred to as loopers and mainly infested the mango, and its infestation is common in the more intensively growing parts of mango trees. cropped areas. Under favourable conditions the damage can Thalassodes quadraria damaged vegetative flushes as they be as high as 35%. On hatching; the caterpillars scraped the appeared during May-June and in October to December by tips of leaves and fed on the tissue within. The mature larvae feeding on tender leaves. Fig. 10 is adult of T. quadraria. were found feeding voraciously and webbing the shoots and Perixera illepidaria found on mango during its reproductive leaves together. The leaves loosened from their stalk and stage of mango, the infestation was being clearly visible when often fully detached remained entangled in the form of webs flowering was at its peak. The larvae preferred Alphonso to on the tree. More than 80% of the completely defoliated Totapuri. Fig 9 is adult of P. illipidaria. shoots (new growth), which failed to set fruit even in next season. The upper and lower canopies of the tree also played a 3.1.9 Flower feeder (Nanaguna sp.) role in infestation of mango leaf webber. Fig. 1 showing The caterpillar causes the inflorescences to be webbed, webbing of mango leaves by O. exvinacea. thereby hindering normal development of the flower and lowered the fruit production. The pest persisted throughout 3.1.2 Leaf roller (Dudua aprobola) the reproductive phase of the mango. In both the varieties, The leaf roller is reported to be a major pest of litchi (Lichi Nanguna sp. was seen from December to March. Fig 11 is the chinensis) but in recent past has spread to mango as well. It larva of Nanaguna sp.