Incidence of rice gundhi bug on certain medicinal plants at Varanasi.
Lal L., Mukharji S. P.
Author Affiliation: Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Science and Culture 41 : 560-561
Abstract : Leptocorisa acuta (Thnb.) (varicornis (F.)), a major pest of rice, is known in India to overwinter in November-February on Blumea lacera and afterwards feed in March-April on the new leaves of mango and from April to June on a succession of wild and cultivated plants, mostly Gramineae. In 1973 this Coreid was found for the first time in large numbers on Grewia hirsuta in June-July and on Barleria prionitis in November-December at Varanasi. Both these new food-plants are medicinal plants that have abundant buds and flowers during the months in which they were attacked. It is suggested that L. acuta, after infesting G. hirsuta in June-July, passes to rice and afterwards migrates to B. prionitis at the beginning of November and finally to Blumea lacera for hibernation.