Occurrence of tingid, Cochlochila bullita (Stal) (Heteroptera: Tingidae) on Tulsi in Manipur

Author: Sushmita Thokchom*, Arati Ningombam and Romila Akoijam

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Abstract

Cochlochila bullita was recently found infesting the tulsi plant causing drying of leaf tips and curling. Nymphs and adults are found both on the lower and upper surfaces of leaves. In Manipur, tulsi is popular in every home because of its medicinal purposes but is found to be hampered mostly by C. bullita. The nymphalexuviae can be observed, which represents the severity of the C. bullita. The length and breadth of the adults were 2.48 ± 0.15 (2.25-2.69) mm and 1.38 ± 0.07 (1.04-1.17) mm, respectively. The head measured 0.47 ± 0.04 (0.49-0.60) mm in width. Therefore, this study finds out the occurrence of C. bullita in tulsi plant with its damaging symptoms and its potential to be the key pest of Ocimum species in Manipur. This is the first report of C. bullita feeding on the tulsi plant from Manipur, Northeast, India.

Keywords

Cochlochila bullita, Tulsi, Damaging, Key pest, Manipur.

Conclusion

This is the first report of C. bullita feeding on the tulsi plant from Manipur, Northeast, India. More studies on C. bullita are needed as the genus Ocimum contains many economically important medicinal and aromatic plants species and its severity has been reported in other parts of India as akey pest of Ocimum species. Therefore, it is essential to study its host plant, feeding behavior and host-specific interactions to enable a greater understanding of this insect.

References

INTRODUCTION Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum), also called holy Basil belongs to the mint family, is found mainly in Southeast Asia. It is commonly grown in the courtyards of Hindu homes for worship. The tulsi leaves have antibacterial, antifungal properties and sometimes are used as a bio pesticide for insecticidal properties. Due to its many beneficial purposes, it has a massive demand among investors and farmers to grow it as a plantation crop (Sathe et al., 2014). Tulsi contains essential oils like camphor, linalool, germacren-D and 1, 8 cineole (Arabaci, 2004; Daneshian, 2013). It is helpful in the treatment of chronic colds, anxiety, snake and scorpion bites, fever, diarrhea, cardiovascular, gastric, hepatitis (Das et al., 2020). There is a meager article regarding the insect pests of tulsi apart from the work of Butani (1982), Saini & Mahla (1991), David (1993) and Kumar (2014) which reported Ceroplastodes cajani, Dialeurodes sp., Pycnarmon cribrata, Macrosiphum sp., and Helicoverpa

How to cite this article

Sushmita Thokchom, Arati Ningombam and Romila Akoijam (2022). Occurrence of tingid, Cochlochila bullita (Stal) (Heteroptera: Tingidae) on Tulsi in Manipur. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(1): 1573-1575.