Forum Home Forum Home > Nature > Flora and Fauna In Sahyadri
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Red silk cotton bug (Dysdercus cingulatus Fabrici)
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login


Red silk cotton bug (Dysdercus cingulatus Fabrici)

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
Pranoti J-K View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie
Avatar

Joined: 03 Oct 2013
Location: Dombivli
Status: Offline
Points: 58
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pranoti J-K Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Red silk cotton bug (Dysdercus cingulatus Fabrici)
    Posted: 18 Oct 2014 at 1:06pm
Red silk cotton bug (Dysdercus cingulatus Fabricius)

 

Also called as cotton stainer bug. Their nymph and adults feed on developing or mature seeds of red cotton silk tree. Penetration of developing cotton bolls leads to occasional transmission of fungi which develop on the immature lint (seed covering) and seed, rendering the later unviable and staining the lint to the typical yellow colour.

 “Life-history: The eggs are laid in clusters of 80-100 in cracks of the soil or dry leaves near the plants. The nymphs hatch out in about 7 days and become adults in 40-85 days. 

  

The ones in the picture are nymphs, and prefer living in aggregations. Once they molt into adults, they tend to go away, although remain in close proximity. They breed through the season, and are seen feeding on dead insects also, they r even known to cannibalize.

Third and subsequent instars can penetrate unopened fruit to feed on developing seeds. Rate of development of egg and five nymphal instars is temperature and nutrition dependent.


The red colored adults are marked by a row of 3 black spots in the middle of the abdomen and 3 white spots on either margin of it. 

Interestingly, it is considered a pest as it feeds on the seed of the cotton crop and does not allow it to germinate. But if we change the perception, it is a fascinating insect which emerges only when the red cotton silk tree starts its seed dispersal and this bug feeds on its seeds till monsoon and then disappears

 

Source - Cotton pests, predators and parasitoids - Descriptions and seasonal dynamics (Central Institute for Cotton Research Nagpur, India)

Photo courtesy - https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinesh_valke/4138285149/

Back to Top
Sponsored Links


Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 11.03
Copyright ©2001-2015 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.145 seconds.