21 Kas 2024 Perşembe
Bionomics of Dactylispa dohertyi (Gestro, 1897), a new pest of apple plantations (Malus domestica Borkh.) in Jammu Region of J & K, India
Abstract :The objective of this work is to study the biology of spiny chrysomelid, Dactylispa dohertyi (Gestro, 1897) on apple plantations (Malus domestica Borkh.) in Jammu and Kashmir. India having varied agro-climatic conditions ranging from tropical, sub-tropical to temperate conditions. Apple is a cherished and economically important fruit crop in Jammu region of J & K State which is severely attacked by both larvae and adults of the pest, Both adults and larvae defoliate Apple plants, reduce their vigour and kill tender shoots. During regular surveys in the apple orchards, the twigs of apple plantations were found damaged heavily by the pest. The infested leaves gave the appearance of being burnt. Thus, an attempt was made to study the biology of this pest in Jammu as no earlier record of the pest has been obtained from the region so far. The insects were reared in the laboratory at room temperature (10.84°C-32.87°C) and relative humidity of 26%-80% on apple plantlets. All life stages except the adults are leaf miners. There are five instar stages with length varying from0.56±0.08 to 2.10±0.22. The incubation, larval duration and adult longevity for male and females were 4.65±.041, 11.4±2.22, and 7.9±0.69 and 4.45±0.43 days respectively. Thus, the pest has a total life span of 22.12±3.59 days. The present study is an important step in future to record the no. of generations of Dactylispa dohertyi on Malus domestica, and for the timely management of the pest
Dactylispa dohertyi, Malus domestica, Biology, New, morphometric