Effect of mungbean varieties on the growth and development of Riptortus pedestris Fabricius (Hemiptera: Alydidae)

Abstract

Riptortus pedestris Fabricius (Hemiptera: Alydidae) is a newly introduced destructive pest of mungbean in Bangladesh and causes substantial damage to different leguminous crops. Experiments were conducted to study host preference and life table parameters on five mungbean varieties against R. pedestris. The host preferences, development, reproductive biology of R. pedestris were investigated on five mungbean varieties namely BARIMUG 3, BARIMUG 5, BARIMUG 6, BINAMUG 5 and BINAMUG 8. Most preferred variety was BARIMUG 6, BARIMUG 5 and least preferred was BARIMUG 3 by both male and female of R. pedestris. Biological performance was studied of the insect in the laboratory conditions. The longest female development time occurred in BARIMUG 5 (24.64 days) but the shortest in BARIMUG 3 (23.28 days). Female R. pedestris survived markedly longer (28.43 days) on the BARIMUG 6 but observed shorter (24.82 days) on BARIMUG 5. On the other hand, the adult longevity of male R. pedestris found higher (25.78 days) on BINAMUG 8 while shorter (23.00 days) on BARIMUG 5 and BINAMUG 5. The maximum numbers of eggs (122.43) were laid on BARIMUG 6, while least in (103.94) oviposited on BARIMUG 5. The sex ratio (proportion of males) was the maximum in BARIMUG 3 (0.43) while minimum in BARIMUG 6 (0.41). The net reproductive rate (Ro = 71.42), intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm= 0.106), finite rate of increase (λ = 1.11) were maximum and the population doubling time (T = 6.49) was the minimum when fed on BARIMUG 6.Therefore, BARIMUG 6 was more preferable variety and BARIMUG 5 was less preferable variety for their growth and development among the five mungbean varieties.