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Influence of abiotic factors on behaviour and adult emergence pattern of coconut white grub, Leucopholis coneophora Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

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Abstract

Leucopholis coneophora Burmeister is a subterranean pest associated with coconut based cropping systems in south India. Feeding damage causes yellowing of fronds and yield reduction. To develop appropriate IPM strategy a basic knowledge on insect behaviour is essential. Four years studies indicated that, adult emergence of L. coneophora was commenced with summer shower in April in Kerala. Delay in summer shower delayed the emergence. After a pause in May, the emergence resumed with the setting of south west monsoon in June. The beetles did not emerge during dry spells in between the rainy days, when the soil temperature (at 10 cm depth) was ≥34.5 °C. Emergence of the beetles started at an illuminance of 124.37 ± 75.5 l in evening and remained active till 2 ± 0.4 l with a maximum swarming at 32.6 ± 15.1 l. Female emergence and mating occurred at 12.04 ± 8.1 l. Female based sex pheromone mediated communication is evident. Strong competition among the males for mating with emerging female, which was evident by a wider operational sex ratio in the initial period (1:10.11) that narrowed down to 1:4.33 in later days. The beetles neither congregate on any host plant nor exhibit phototaxis. Number of beetles entrapped in light traps varied from 1.5–16.5% and hand picking is highly significant over light trapping. Hence hand picking of beetles daily in the evening for 2 weeks commencing from the onset of south west monsoon in Kerala, in Indian subcontinent is suggested as a tool in IPM.

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Acknowledgements

Authors are grateful to Director CPCRI and Head Crop protection division, CPCRI and University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore for providing necessary facilities and fund.

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Contributions

PSP conceived the research, conducted survey and carried out studies on adult emergence pattern and behaviour of L. coneophora. ARVK and KS provided guidance and reviewed the research. VV assisted in taking filed observation. All the authors were involved in writing the research paper.

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Correspondence to Prathibha P. S..

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Key messages

L. coneophora adult emergence initiated with the summer shower in April, after a pause in May, it resumed with the setting of south west monsoon in June and continued for two weeks in Kerala state, India

• Daily the emergence started at an illuminance of 124.37 ± 75.5 l in evening, maximum swarming occurred at 32.6 ± 15.1 l, female emergence and mating occurred at 12.04 ± 8.1 l and remained active till it fall to1.2 ± 0.4 l (between IST 18.15 to 19.20)

• The beetles exhibited a wider operational sex ratio in the initial period (1:10.11) that narrowed down to 1:4.33 in later days.

• Hand picking of beetles is highly significant over light trapping

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P. S., P., A. R. V., K., Subaharan, K. et al. Influence of abiotic factors on behaviour and adult emergence pattern of coconut white grub, Leucopholis coneophora Burmeister (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Phytoparasitica 46, 341–353 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-018-0662-x

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