Genitalia structure examination for interspecific mating of Helopeltis antonii and H. theivora

Several insect pests have been recorded on cashew in India super(1), prominent among them being the tea mosquito bug (TMB) Helopeltis spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae). The nymphs and adults of TMB feed on the leaves and stems of new shoots, the inflorescence panicles, and on the developing nuts, which can...

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Published inCurrent science (Bangalore) Vol. 105; no. 1; pp. 23 - 25
Main Authors Bhat, P. S., Srikumar, K. K.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Current Science Association 10.07.2013
Subjects
Anacardium
Cashews
Female animals
Female genitalia
Genitalia
Hemiptera
Male animals
Male genitalia
Mating behavior
Miridae
Plantation crops
SCIENTIFIC CORRESPONDENCE
Virgin females
Written correspondence
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Summary:Several insect pests have been recorded on cashew in India super(1), prominent among them being the tea mosquito bug (TMB) Helopeltis spp. (Hemiptera: Miridae). The nymphs and adults of TMB feed on the leaves and stems of new shoots, the inflorescence panicles, and on the developing nuts, which can result in 30-50% yield loss super(2-4). The mating process and oviposition behaviour of Helopeltis antonii Signoret have been described super(5). Presence of sex pheromone in virgin female of H. antonii has been demonstrated by observing attraction of males towards three/four-day-old virgin females. In plantations where all the three species co-existed, interspecific attraction of males of Helopeltis theivora Waterhouse and Helopeltis bradyi Waterhouse towards virgin females of H. antonii was not observed, while attraction of males of H. theivora and H. bradyi confined to intraspecific virgin females was observed, thus indicating highest intraspecies specificity super(6). However, very rare interspecific matings between female of H. antonii and male of H. theivora were observed during the present survey (November 2009-December 2012). But no mating was observed between H. antonii and H. bradyi (Figure 1). H. antonii showed less morphological variation with H. bradyi than H. theivora (Figure 2). The description of leg colouration, particularly the hind femora without a pale annulus basally, clearly distinguishes H. antonii Signoret from the externally similar species H. bradyi.
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ISSN:0011-3891