Damage Status, Feeding Preferences and Control of Hog-plum Beetle with Photorhabdus temperata

Abstract

Experiments were conducted related to damage status, feeding preferences and control of hog-plum beetle, Podontia 14-punctata with a symbiotic bacterium, Photorhabdus temperata, in different locations of patuakhali district, Patuakhali science and Technology University (PSTU) campus and Entomology laboratory. Podontia 14-punctata is one of the most leaves damaging pest in southern part of Bangladesh. To evaluate the damage status a survey was conducted in twenty one villages under seven different upazillas of patuakhali district. Six hundred thirty plants of different ages (0-20 years) were observed. In this survey (58.33±2.12) percent plants and (45.67±1.68) percent leaflets were infested. In respect of ages highest plant infestation 76% was found in 16-20 years plants followed by 11-15 years (59%), 0-5 years (57%) and lowest infestation of plant was 6-10 years (56%). To determine feeding preferences leaves of four varieties namely, Baromashi, Bilati, Local I and Local II were tested against 3rd instar larvae of Podontia 14-punctata. Among these four varieties, Local I was most susceptible variety. 85.57% leaflets was consumed in local I variety followed by Baromashi (80.42%), Local II (65.14%) and Bilati (59.19%) respectively in field condition. Highest leaflets consumed in the variety of Local I (88.88%) and was lowest in the variety of Bilati (55.55%) in laboratory condition. To control Podontia 14-punctata three different concentrations (0%, 1% and 10%) of symbiotic culture medium of Photorhabdus temperata (PT) were used. Using 10% PT, 100% and 85% mortality were observed after 96 hours in Ist and 2nd instars larvae of Podontia 14-punctata respectively.