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.
Host preference of red pumpkin beetle in a choice test under net case condition
No abstract available. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjz.v39i2.10593 Bangladesh J. Zool. 39 (2): 231-234, 2011
Host selection and food utilization of the red pumpkin beetle,Raphidopalpa foveicollis (Lucas) (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera)
An analysis of the host plant relationships with respect to the red pumpkin beetle,Raphidopalpa foveicollis Lucas is presented based on the role of receptors involved in host selection, the quantitative food utilization on different cucurbitaceous host plants and the biochemical parameters involved in food plant selection. Orientation of the beetles towards the host plants appeared to be profoundly affected when the receptors present on the antennae and mouthparts were ablated or coated. Though significant differences were observed with regard to the quantity of food ingested among different host plants, ingestion of food was higher for mature leaves and flowers compared to young and senescent leaves. Accordingly, mature leaves and flowers showed high nitrogen and proteins, low sugars, moderately high phenols and narrowC/N ratio compared to other plant parts. The chemosensory receptors present on the antennae and mouthparts were also studied using scanning electron microscope.