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Parthenium pollen induced feeding by Zygogramma bicolorata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on sunflower (Helianthus annuus) (Compositae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

K.P. Jayanth ,
Sukhada Mohandas ,
R. Asokan  and
P.N.Ganga Visalakshy
K.P. Jayanth*
Affiliation:
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, India
Sukhada Mohandas
Affiliation:
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, India
R. Asokan
Affiliation:
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, India
P.N.Ganga Visalakshy
Affiliation:
Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, India
*
K.P. Jayanth, Division of Entomology & Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake Post, Bangalore 560 089, India.
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Abstract

Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) of Mexican origin, introduced for biological control trials against the weed Parthenium hysterophorus (Compositae), was found to feed on the tender leaves of the related plant sunflower (Helianthus annuus Linnaeus) at a few places in Kolar district in Karnataka State, India. The insects in these populations exhibited variability in feeding response to sunflower under laboratory and field conditions. The sesqueterpene lactone parthenin, specific to P. hysterophorus, was found to induce feeding by the adults of Z. bicolorata on treated sunflower leaves within six hours, as compared to 4–7 days on untreated leaves. Further investigations resulted in the novel finding that dusting of parthenium pollen, or smearing its extract which contains parthenin, on sunflower leaves also induced feeding responses in adults. Parthenium pollen was detected on sunflower leaves growing in close proximity to the weed stand, suggesting that this could be one of the factors influencing variability in the feeding behaviour of Z. bicolorata.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 83 , Issue 4 , December 1993 , pp. 595 - 598
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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