No abstract

Field observations were carried out between 2002 and 2005 on bio-ecology of white grubs infesting teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.) seedlings at Ramdongari Forest Nursery, Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra, Nagpur in central India. The study collected the data required for an integrated pest management strategy against the white grubs. The species damaging teak seedlings were Holotrichia rustica (Burmeister) and H. mucida Gyllenhal. The beetles (adults) of both these species began to emerge just after the pre-monsoon showers and when the relative humidity had risen rapidly over several days, but before the first monsoon rains. While the adults fed and mated on naturally growing bushes of Ziziphus jujuba, Z. mauritiana, Z. xylopyra, Acacia leucophloea and A. catechu immediately after the emergence from the teak beds in the nursery, the immature stages (grubs) of both species fed on roots of the teak seedling, leading to plant death. This is the first report of (i) damage caused to teak seedlings by grubs of H. rustica and H. mucida, and (ii) of Z. jujuba and Z. mauritiana being hosts for the beetles of H. mucida and H. rustica. It is also the first detailed report on the field bio-ecology of the H. rustica and H. mucida as major pests of teak. White grubs are among the toughest-to-manage pests of economic importance and information presented here on the pest incidence and damage of H. rustica and H. mucida is important to researchers and nursery field managers for the management of these pests on teak.

The paper reports the compatibility of Infective Juveniles (IJs) ofnew species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema dharanaii was evaluated against some new generation biopesticides (9 products comprising of 5 botanical pesticides, Neem Gold®, Neem oil®, Agropest Bt. ®, Derisome®, Ozomite®, 3 microbial pesticides, Bioprahar®, Conserve® , Delfine®) and 1 Insect Growth Regulator (Cigna®). The freshly harvested Infective Juveniles (IJs) were exposed to the desired concentration of the biopesticides, which normally ranged from concentration lower to higher concentration specific to the type of biopesticides for 72 hours and data on the survival in IJs was recorded. The iinfectivity of the surviving IJs was also tested in laboratory against the wax moth larvae, Galleria mellonella.The results showed that the EPNs survival on highest concentration of different biopesticides such as, Neemgold 2.0% survival 84.

by analyzing their regurgitated pellets. The insect order Coleoptera with three dung beetle species, and two orders and f ive species of small mammals, and were recorded from the pellets. The other insect taxa found in the pellets include Carabidae and Hydrophilidae beetles and Earwigs in the order Dermaptera. This is for the f irst time food habits of the spotted owlets, being reported from the state of Madhya Pradesh, which further provides identifying key characters of the dung beetles along with illustrations, obtained from the pellet materials. The study on the feeding habits of the owlet species is very important not only for its signif icance in conservation but also for their predatory potential, as they are the main

The bioefficacy study of new native species of entomopathogenic nematode, Steinernema dharanaii (TFRIEPN-15) against root grubs Holotrichia rustica infecting Tectona grandis crop of forest nurseries of central India was taken up under controlled laboratory conditions. The grub of H. rustica when exposed to range of Infective Juveniles (IJs) numbers dose dependant relationship by 10-15-and 25-30-days old grubs. The younger grubs were more susceptible as compared to older ones. Minimum number of IJs, i.e. 300 Grub-1 causes 13.33% mortality in younger 6 days after the exposure, followed by 46.66% at the IJs population of 600 IJs Grub-1 mortality in older grubs at population of 600 IJs Grub-1 causes 26.66% mortality. IJs population of 900 to 3000 caused mortality ranging from 73.33 to 93.33% in younger grubs at par with each other (P>0.05). IJ population of above 6000 IJs caused 100.0% mortality in younger grub which was significantly superior (P<0.05). The older grub also exhibited similar trends, however maximum of 93.33% mortality at the highest IJ population. These experiments have proved that indigenous species of entomopathogenic nematodes can be used successfully control white grubs and other soil insect pests with eco-friendly and effective management techniques achieving cent-percent mortality of the target insect pests.