Research Article | Published: 01 September 2000

Biological Control of Streblote siva through NPV and Natural Enemy complex of Insect Pests of Prosopis cineraria in Rajasthan

S. I. Ahmed, Shivesh Kumar and S. D. Paunikar

Indian Journal of Forestry | Volume: 23 | Issue: 3 | Page No. 305-311 | 2000
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2000-K6S91R | Cite this article

Abstract

Nuclear polyhedrosis virus, introduced into virus-free population of the Babul defoliator, Taragama siva (Streblote siva) larvae (Lasiocampidae: Lepidoptera), in 1996, was carried over into 1997 host generation and was spread into the surrounding areas from the points of introduction at Jodhpur, Rajasthan (India). The extent of spread in 1997 appeared to be influenced by the size of the area treated in 1996. During 1998-99, the NPV infection was spread ahnd found fully developed in the virus free zone of T. siva population. In 1997 the epizooties developed slowly during the early instars and reached the highest levels late in the last instars larvae of T. siva. The pattern of mortality in the first and second generation in both the year remained similar where highest percentage larval mortality were recorded during the months of August and September. Many infected larvae crawled to the tops of the Prosopis juliflora trees and died while eggs were being laid by adult moths, thus, some eggs masses where contaminated with NPV infection. This is one of the ways by which the virus may spread from one generation to the next, but eggs transmission by adult appears to be the main factor of the spread over wide areas of Jodhpur and adjacent localities. Adults of a dipterous larval parasite, Carcelia sp. was also found to the most important dispersal agent of virus-disease in localized areas because they feed and develop on virus-diseased larvae and remain in the larval body from the time when larval enter the third instars until the emergence of adult moth.

Of the important natural enemy complex, nineteen species of parasites, thirteen species of predators and three species of entomopathogens were found associated with the potential pests of Prosopis species. The key predators and parasites of neem weevil Myllocerus tenuicornis Faust are Eumenes dimidiatipennis, E. esuriens (Euminidae” Hymenoptera), Bracon greeni, Iphiaulax sp. (Brachonidae: Hymenoptera) and pathogens Beauveria bassiana.

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How to cite

Ahmed, S.I., Kumar, S. and Paunikar, S.D., 2000. Biological Control of Streblote siva through NPV and Natural Enemy complex of Insect Pests of Prosopis cineraria in Rajasthan. Indian Journal of Forestry, 23(3), pp.305-311. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2000-K6S91R

Publication History

Manuscript Published on 01 September 2000

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