Abstract

The comparative performance of sesame pod bug Elasmolomus sordidus on four different host seeds viz. sesame, groundnut, sorghum and bajra was studied under laboratory condition in terms of egg hatchability, nymphal duration, nymphal mortality, oviposition period, fecundity and adult longevity. The egg hatchability was higher on groundnut (54.6%) and sorghum (50.0%) than on bajra (48.8%) and sesame (48.6%). The nymphal period recorded was 23.0, 24.4, 26.6 and 29.6 days on sesame, groundnut, sorghum and bajra respectively. The nymphal mortality percentage was more on bajra (65.2) and sorghum (59.0) than on groundnut (55.2) and sesame (41.6). The oviposition period was shorter on sesame and groundnut than on sorghum and bajra. Fecundity of the bug was higher on sesame (99.5 eggs female) and groundnut (81.0) than on other two hosts. The adult longevity of female and male bugs was 32.8 and 35.0, 31.8 and 43.6, 29.6 and 32.6, 24.6 and 28.8 on bajra, sorghum; groundnut and sesame respectively. This study apparently proved that the sesame and groundnut acted as suitable breeding host while sorghum and bajra acted only as feeding host.

Keywords: Sesame, Elasmolomus sordidus, Groundnut, Sorghum, Bajra seeds.