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Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2021; 9(4): 314-320
E-ISSN: 2320-7078
P-ISSN: 2349-6800
www.entomoljournal.com
JEZS 2021; 9(4): 314-320
© 2021 JEZS
Received: 14-07-2021
Accepted: 17-08-2021
Thara KG
Post Graduate Student,
University of Agricultural
Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka
India
Vastrad AS
Dean (Student Welfare)
University of Agricultural
Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka
India
Sunitha ND
Professor, Department of
Agricultural Entomology,
College of Agriculture UAS
Dharwad, Vijayapura,
Karnataka, India
Motagi BN
Senior Scientist, Department of
Plant Breeding, AICRP on
Groundnut, Main Agricultural
Research Station (MARS) UAS,
Dharwad, Karnataka, India
Corresponding Author:
Thara KG
Post Graduate Student,
University of Agricultural
Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka
India
Diversity of insects associated with grain
amaranth, Amaranthus spp (F: Amaranthaceae)
Thara KG, Vastrad AS, Sunitha ND and Motagi BN
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/j.ento.2021.v9.i5d.8845
Abstract
The study on diversity of insects associated with grain amaranth, Amaranthus spp was conducted from
August to November 2019 at College of Agriculture, Vijayapura. A total of thirty one insects belonging
to twenty one families and eight orders; comprising of twenty six insect pests, four predators and one
parasitoid were recorded. Each genus recorded during the study was represented by a single species
totaling thirty one genus and species. Order Hemiptera was the most diverse with a relative abundance of
29.03 per cent followed by Coleoptera (22.58 per cent), Lepidoptera and Thysanoptera (12.90 per cent),
Homoptera, Orthoptera and Hymenoptera (6.45 per cent) while Neuroptera was the least (3.23 per cent)
abundant.
Keywords: Grain amaranth, insect diversity
1. Introduction
Amaranthus is an ancient (8000 years in cultivation) crop whose virtue as a neutraceutical has
been discovered recently. Amaranth, as an alternative cereal is attracting researchers’ attention
mainly because of the high nutritional value of its seeds (Posopisil et al., 2006) [1]. It is a viable
alternative source of nutrition for people in developing countries. Tender leaves and stems
contain carbohydrates, protein, fat, phosphorus, iron, calcium, vitamin A and C (Rai and
Yadav, 2005) [2]. Grain amaranth has higher protein content than most cereals and grains. The
amino acid composition of amaranth grain protein compares well with the FAO/WHO protein
standard. It is also a good source of dietary fibre. The amaranth grain provides an ideal amino
acid composition for human nutrition. Amaranth has a relatively high portion of lysine
compared to other foods, leading to its effective utilization as protein source (Sseguya, 2007) [3].
Amaranthus is a fast growing crop and because of its low production cost it is one of the
cheapest dark green vegetable in the tropical market. Unlike other green vegetables, it is
cultivated during summer when no other green vegetables are available in the market (Singh
and Whitehead, 1996) [4]. Current interest in amaranth is due to the fact that, it is extremely
adaptable to adverse growing conditions, resists heat and drought and is among the easiest of
plants to grow in marginal lands.
Grain amaranth like most other vegetables is not free from the attack of insects. Various
species of insects damage the grain and cause economic yield losses. Amaranths are
susceptible to damage by foliar insect pests such as leaf worms (Spodoptera sp), aphids (Aphis
sp), leaf miners (Liriomyza sp.), leaf roller (Sylepta derogate F.), spider mites (Tetranychus
sp), bugs (Aspavia armigera F.) and stem boring weevils (H. haereus) (Okunlola et al., 2008;
Wilson, 1989) [5, 6].
Several pest surveys have been conducted in other parts of the world, for example, Mexico and
Brazil (Torres et al., 2011 and Garcia et al., 2011) [7, 8]. However, information on the diversity
insects on cultivated grain amaranth in India is still very limited.
2. Materials and methods
Study site
The experiment was conducted during kharif, 2018 at College of Agriculture, Vijayapura.
Observation was recorded from seedling to harvesting stage. The plants were examined
visually to collect insect pests and natural enemies from amaranth crop. Slow moving and
sedentary insects were collected by hand using poison bottle.
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Soft bodied and immature insects were collected with paint
brush and preserved in vials containing 70 per cent alcohol.
Flying insects were collected using aerial nets. Beating sheets
were used to collect the thrips. Grain pests were collected by
tapping the panicle on the polythene cover. Natural enemies
were also collected and preserved for identification.
Identification of insect pests and natural enemies
Collected samples were labeled with the following
information: Collection date, number of each species and the
part of the plant of which the insects were found. The insect
specimens were got identified by the experts from NBAIR
and GKVK, Bengaluru.
3. Results and discussion
During study conducted in the month of August to
November,2018 a total of thirty one insects from twenty one
families and eight orders; comprising of twenty six insect
pests, four predators and one parasitoid were recorded (Table
1; Plate 1). Each genus recorded during the study was
represented by a single species totaling thirty one genus and
species. Among thirty one species recorded Hemiptera was
the most diverse group (nine species) followed by Coleoptera
(seven species), Homoptera, Lepidoptera and Thysanoptera
(four species), Orthoptera and Hymenoptera (two species) and
alone Neuroptera represented by common predator, Green
lace wing (Chrysoperla zastrowi sillemi Esben-Petersen).
Twenty six insect pests, five predators and one parasitoid
were recorded during study period.
Hemiperan insects recorded during study included seed bug
(Nysius sp and Eurystylus sp.), Green bug (Nezera viridula
Linnaeus.), stink bug (Plautia crossata Dallus.), predatory
bug (Eucanthecona furcellata Wolff.), squash bug (Cletus
punctiger Dallus.), bean bug (Riptortus pedestris Fabricius.),
eurybrachid bug (Eurybrachys sp.), and cow bug (Otinotus
sp.).
Among Homoptera leaf hopper (Empoasca sp.) and cowpea
aphid (Aphis craccivora Koch.) were recorded.
Coleopteran insects were represented by stem weevil
(Hypolixus truncatulus Fabricius.), blister beetle (Mylabris
pustulata Thunberg.), myllocerous weevil (Myllocerous sp.),
flower beetle (Oxycetonia versicolor Fabricius.) and lady bird
beetles (Coccinella transversalis Fabricius, Ileiscincta
Fabricius and Scymnus nubilus Mulsant).
Lepidopteran pests included leaf webber (Spoladea recurvalis
Fabricius.), Earhead caterpillar (Helicoverpa armigera
Hubnar.), leaf eating caterpillar (Spodopteralitura Fabricius.)
and hairy caterpillar (Euproctis sp.).
Attractomorpha crenulata Fabricius and Cyrtacanthacris
tatarica Linnaeus represented the Orthoptera. Among the
hymenoptera paper wasp (Ropalidia marginata Lepeletier)
and braconid wasp (Bracon sp.) were recorded.
The order Thysanoptera was represented by Frankliniella
schultzei Try bom, Haplothrips gowdeyi Frank, Thrips flavus
Schrank and Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood.
Paper wasp Ropalidia marginata Lepeletier, is a predator on
various insects and economic importance of which could not
be ascertained during study, probably it could be feeding on
the larvae.
Order Hemiptera was the most diverse with a relative
abundance of 29.03 per cent followed by Coleoptera (22.58
per cent), Lepidoptera and Thysanoptera (12.90 per cent),
Homoptera, Orthoptera and Hymenoptera (6.45 per cent)
where Neuroptera was the least (3.23 per cent) abundant
(Fig.1). Diversity of insect pests was most abundant (twenty
five species) than predators (five species) and parasitoid (one
species) (Fig 2).
The results of present investigation are in accordance with the
previous research who reported that, the order Heteroptera
was most diverse with greatest number of species i. e, 13
species followed by Coleoptera with 11 species (Kagaliet al.,
2013) [9]. Aderolu et al., 2013 [10] reportedsixty insect species
belonging 29 families and 12 orders, comprising 31
defoliators, 12 predators, one pupal parasitoid (Apanteles
hymeneae) and 16 non-economic species on Amaranthus sp.
The species abundance in both seasons was Beet worm moth
>Hypolixustruncatulus.
4. Summary and conclusions
A total of thirty one insects belonging to twenty one families
and eight orders were recorded on grain amaranth. Among
which Hemiptera was the most diverse group (nine species)
followed by Coleoptera (seven species), Homoptera,
Lepidoptera and Thysanoptera (four species), Orthoptera and
Hymenoptera (two species) and alone Neuroptera represented
by common predator, Green lace wing (Chrysoperla zastrowi
sillemi Esben-Petersen). Twenty six insect pests, five
predators and one parasitoid were recorded during study
period. Each genus recorded during the study was represented
by a single species totaling thirty one genus and species.
Order Hemiptera was the most diverse with a relative
abundance of 29.03 per cent followed by Coleoptera with
22.58 per cent, Lepidoptera and Thysanoptera with 12.90
per cent, Homoptera, Orthoptera and Hymenoptera with
6.45 per cent where Neuroptera was the least (3.23 per
cent) abundant.
Diversity of insect pests was most abundant with twenty
five species followed by predators (five species) and
parasitoid (one species).
There are diverse insect pests attacking amaranth causing
considerable damage to yield of both leaves and grain
hence requiring control measures. The natural enemies
can be conserved and used for biological control.
Table 1: Diversity of insects recorded on grain amaranth at College of Agriculture, Vijayapura
Sl. No.
Common Name
Scientific Name
Family
Order
1
Seed bug
Nysiussp.
Lygaeidae
Hemiptera
2
Stink bug
Plautiacrossota (Dallas)
Pentatomidae
Hemiptera
3
Green bug
Nezaraviridula ( Linnaeus)
Pentatomidae
Hemiptera
4
Amaranth bug
Cletus punctiger (Dallas)
Coreidae
Hemiptera
5
Bean bug
Riptortuspedestris (Fabricius)
Alydidae
Hemiptera
6
Seed bug
Eurystylus sp.
Miridae
Hemiptera
7
Cow bug
Otinotus sp.
Membracidae
Hemiptera
8
Preadatory bug
Eucantheconafurcellata (Wolff)
Pentatomidae
Hemiptera
9
Eurybrachid bug
Eurybrachys sp.
Euribrachidae
Hemiptera
10
Stem weevil
Hypolixus truncatulus (Fabricius)
Curculionidae
Coleoptera
Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies http://www.entomoljournal.com
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11
Blister beetle
Mylabrispustulata (Thunberg)
Meloidae
Coleoptera
12
Myllocerous weevil
Myllocerous Sp.
Curculionidae
Coleoptera
13
Flower beetle
Oxycetoniaversicolor (Fabricius)
Scarabidae
Coleoptera
14
Transverse Lady beetle
Coccinella transversalis (Fabricius)
Coccinellidae
Coleoptera
15
Lady bird beetle
Ileiscincta (Fabricius)
Coccinellidae
Coleoptera
16
Lady bird beetle
Scymnus (Scymnus) nubilus (Mulsant)
Coccinellidae
Coleoptera
17
Leaf webber
Spoladearecurvalis (Fabricius)
Crambidae
Lepidoptera
18
Tobacco cut worm
Spodoptera litura (Fabricius)
Noctuidae
Lepidoptera
19
Ear head caterpillar
Helicoverpa armigera (Hubnar)
Noctuidae
Lepidoptera
20
Hairy caterpillar
Euproctis sp.
Lymantriidae
Lepidoptera
21
Blossom thrips
Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom)
Thriptidae
Thysanoptera
22
Thrips
Haplothripsgowdeyi (Franklin)
Thriptidae
Thysanoptera
23
Thrips
Thripsflavus (Schrank)
Thriptidae
Thysanoptera
24
Chillithrips
Scirtothripsdorsalis (Hood)
Thriptidae
Thysanoptera
25
Leaf hopper
Empoasca sp.
Cicadellidae
Homoptera
26
Cowpea aphid
Aphis craccivora (Koch.)
Aphididae
Homoptera
27
Grass hopper
Cyrtacanthacristatarica (L.)
Acrididae
Orthoptera
28
Tobacco grass hopper
Atractomorphacrenulata (Fabricius)
Acrididae
Orthoptera
29
Paper wasp
Ropalidiamarginata (Lepeletier)
Vespidae
Hymenoptera
30
Braconid wasp
Bracon sp.
Braconidae
Hymenoptera
31
Green lace wing
Chrysoperlazastrowisillemi (Esben-Petersen).
Chrysopidae
Neuroptera
Fig 2: Relative abundance of insects belonging to different orders recorded on grain amaranth
Fig 3: Relative diversity of insects based on economic importance
Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies http://www.entomoljournal.com
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Mylabrius pustulata Thunberg Nysius sp. Riptortus pedestris Fabricius Cletus punctiger Dallas
Attractomorpha crenulata Fabricius Hypolixus truncatulus Fabricius
Plate 1: Insect pests recorded on grain amaranth
Euproctis sp. Spoladea recurvalis Fabricius
Helicoverpa armigera Hubnar Spodoptera litura Fabricius
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Eucantacona furcellata Wolff Braconid wasp
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