02901nam a22001937a 4500 289368 289368 632.6 AKS/ID PG Akshaja Suresh Identity, morphology and natural history of lema species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae) infesting orchids (Asparagales: Orchidaceae) in India. Vellayani Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture 2021 56p. M Sc The present study entitled “Identity, morphology and natural history of Lema species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae) infesting orchids (Asparagales: Orchidaceae) in India” was conducted at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani from 2019-2021 to ascertain identity of the Lema species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae) infesting orchids in India and describe them; and study the immature stages as well as lifecycle of Lema sp. infesting orchids in south India. The orchids in north-east India are attacked by Lema pectoralis unicolor Clark, distributed in China and the Indo-Malayan subregion. The Lema beetles attacking orchids in south India (Kumari and Lyla, 2001) and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Baskaran et al., 2016; Bharathimeena, 2016) belongs to a new species, here named as L. vimala n. sp. This is the first report of L. pectoralis unicolor in India. The beetles infesting south Indian orchids were collected from different orchid farms in Thiruvanathapuram. It was reared under laboratory conditions and the life cycle was studied in detail. The external morphology of Lema pectoralis unicolor and Lema vimala n. sp. was studied, illustrated and descriptions were prepared. The male and female genitalia of both the species were dissected, studied and photographed. Endophallus of L. vimala n. sp. was fully everted and the endophallic sclerites were studied and illustrated. Illustrations and descriptions of egg, and final instar larvae as well as pupa were prepared. The duration of life cycle ranged from 19 to 24 days, with egg period of 2 to 5 days, larval period of 5 to 9 days and pupal period of 10 to 14 days. The adults lived for 68 to 170 days. Other biological observations such as feeding and breeding behavior were also recorded. Eggs were found only on flowers and the grubs fed only on flowers while the adults fed on flowers, epiphytic roots and leaves. The grubs carry fecal shield on their back. Egg cannibalism by first instar grubs was recorded. Adults perform thanatosis. Pediobius sp. on eggs, Tetrastichus sp. nr julis on larva, and an unidentified Ichneumonidae on pupa were the parasitoids recorded on L. vimala n. sp. Agricultural Entomology Lema species Orchids Prathapan, K D (Guide) https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810215797 ddc TH 0 0 0 0 REF KAUCLV KAUCLV THESES 2022-04-25 0 632.6 AKS/ID PG 175308 2022-04-25 00:00:00 TH