BIO-ECOLOGY, TAXONOMIC CHARACTERIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THRIPS INFESTING MUNGBEAN

Abstract

Six experiments were conducted during the study period of which two experiments in the laboratory of Entomology department and four experiments in the experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University to study the taxonomic identification, bio-ecology, varietal screening and management of thrips infesting mungbean from February 2016 to June 2018. Two thrips species Megalurothrips usitatus and Thrips palmi were identified on different plant parts of mungbean, causing damage to plants and responsible for shedding flower bud and flower. The adult female of M. usitatus was dark brown with 8-segmented antennae and the segment III was yellow. The male of M. usitatus was smaller and paler with almost yellow legs and pronotum. Adult female of T. palmi was yellow with 7-segmented antennae. A pair of ocellar setae was located outside the triangular red pigmented ocelli. Average body length of adult female and male M. usitatus was 1.97 ± 0.13 mm and 1.42 ± 0.12 mm, respectively, and female T. palmi was 1.20 ± 0.02 mm. The incubation period, first instar larva, second instar larva, prepupa, pupal period, and total developmental time