HOST SUITABILITY OF RED PUMPKIN BEETLE, AULACOPHORA FOVEICOLLIS (LUCAS) AMONG DIFFERENT CUCURBITACEOUS HOSTS
The red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas) is a common, serious and major pest of a wide range of cucurbitaceous vegetables. It is injurious to the crops and cause severe damage to almost all cucurbits. The present study was conducted to find out the host suitability of red pumpkin beetle, Aulacophora foveicollis (Lucas) among different cucurbit hosts in the Laboratory and Field Laboratory of the Department of Entomology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. This study was investigated with a view to explore a resistant host to this pest. The experiment was laid out in the completely randomized design (CRD) and Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in laboratory and field respectively with five replications. Three cucurbit hosts such as sweet gourd (Var. BARI Sweet gourd1), bitter gourd (Var. Hybrid Nepali) and bottle gourd (Var. Kajla) were selected to conduct this research work. Host suitability was determined depending on the average number of beetles present per plant in field. But in the laboratory host suitability was measured following force feeding and choice feeding bioassays. In the field at three different stages of the plant the highest number of beetle per plant was observed on the sweet gourd and the lowest number was found on bitter gourd. Similarly both in force feeding and choice feeding bioassays the highest leaf feeding was observed on sweet gourd and the lowest leaf feeding was determined on the bitter gourd. Both in the laboratory and field among the three cucurbit hosts sweet gourd was the most suitable and bitter gourd was the least suitable host for red pumpkin beetle.
Feeding Behavior and Food Preference of Red Pumpkin Beetle, Aulacophora Foveicollis
The experiment was laid out in the completely randomized design (CRD) and mean values were ranked by Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Three cucurbit hosts such as sweet gourd, bottle gourd and bitter gourd were selected to conduct this research work. Host suitability was measured following force feeding and choice feeding bioassays. Under laboratory condition, feeding behavior and food preference were studied on three different host plants viz. sweet gourd, bottle gourd and bitter gourd. Food consumption by the larva and the adult was highest on sweet gourd (19600 ±7.9mm2, 1944.33±89.51 mm2) followed by bottle gourd (185.00 ± 12.29 mm2, 1657.00 ± 62.80 mm2). In case of bitter gourd the larvae died aftertwo days of release and the lowest food consumption (8.00 ± 1.53 mm2) was found by adult. The larval duration and the adult duration were highest on bottle gourd (20.67 ± 0.99 days, 43.33 ± 0.88 days) followed by sweet gourd (16.67 ± 0.99 days, 40.33 ± 0.88 days). Considering food consumption, sweet gourd appeared to be the best suitable host plant among the three different host plants for Aulacophora foveicollis. The study will help researcher, agricultural policy maker and agricultural extension worker for effective pest management, developing resistant variety and cost effective pesticides.
Perceived job importance and job performance satisfaction of selected clinical nutrition management responsibilities.
A nationwide survey of clinical nutrition managers was conducted to assess perceived importance of selected job responsibilities and perceived performance satisfaction of those job responsibilities. A questionnaire was developed to achieve the study objectives, validated by an expert panel, and pilot-tested prior to data collection. All members of the American Dietetic Association's Clinical Nutrition Management dietetic practice group (N=1,668) were asked to rate the importance of selected job responsibilities and their satisfaction with those responsibilities using Likert-type scales with descriptions. Results revealed that clinical nutrition managers perceived all job responsibilities listed in the questionnaire to be important (ie, the mean score of each responsibility was >3.0 of a 4.0 scale). Respondents rated regulatory-related job responsibilities as most important and were most satisfied with their performance of these responsibilities. Following regulatory-related responsibilities, clinical nutrition managers perceived patient satisfaction and staff retention to be more important than other responsibilities. In general, clinical nutrition managers were more satisfied with their job performance for job responsibilities that they ranked as more important.