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Impact of antennectomy, eye blinding and tibial comb coating on the predatory behaviour of Rhynocoris kumarii Ambrose and Livingstone (Het., Reduviidae) on Spodoptera litura Fabr. (Lep., Noctuidae)
Author(s) -
Claver M. A.,
Ambrose D. P.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of applied entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1439-0418
pISSN - 0931-2048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1439-0418.2001.00565.x
Subject(s) - spodoptera litura , biology , reduviidae , cutworm , predation , noctuidae , pedicel , anatomy , zoology , lepidoptera genitalia , horticulture , pest analysis , botany , ecology , hemiptera
The predaceous reduviid Rhynocoris kumarii uses its antennae, eyes and tibial comb to predate tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura (Fabr). A delayed arousal response was observed in the antennectomized, eye blinded and tibial comb‐coated predators. The predators whose entire antennae had been removed showed significant delayed approach but the approach response was not affected significantly in the blinded and tibial comb‐coated reduviid predators. Capturing response was significantly affected in pedicel and entire antennae‐removed predators, and blinded and tibial comb‐coated predators. Antennectomy, eye blinding and tibial comb coating did not cause any impact in the act of paralysing the prey. Progressive reduction in sucking duration and the number of sucking sites were observed as a function of sequential segment‐wise removal of antennae. A reduction in the sucking duration and number of sucking sites were also observed in blinded and tibial comb coated predators.