• Pooja Arora

Abstract :- Food preference and orientation towards food of a pyrrhocorid bug, O. nigricornis is observed in lab. which in turn is a pest of P. alata. The bug is a polyphagus phytosuccivorus insect. Among its various food plants, preferential feeding has been observed as P. alata – B. paniculata –M.coromandelianum – D. repens. However, among the leaves first preference is given to M. coromandelianum. P. alata has been observed its main food plant and gregarious feeding is observed on its seeds. Occasionaly bugs are observed feeding on its dead members as well as on the birds excreta probably to meet the demand of amino acids. First and second instars directly move towards the food source while 3rd to 5th instars indirectly inlvolve to get the food. For some time, they move here and there near to the food and then reach to the food for feeding. The adult bugs did not next directly orient towards the food but they took turn to their right side and then reached towards food . Antennal Sensillae helps in locating food while rostral tips sensillae help in locating proper feeding site. Gustatory organs of cibarium delect the taste of food . Feeding duration by a bug has been observed of 20-60 minutes, average being 30 minutes.

Key words :- Host specificity, orientation towards food source, O. nigricornis P. alata, prefrential feeding.

"HOST SPECIFICITY AND ORIENTATION TOWARDS FOOD OF ODONTOPUS NIGRICORNIS STAL. (HETEROPTERA –PYRRHOCOROIDEA), A PEST OF PTERYGOTA ALATA ROXB. ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 8, page no.e559-e565, August-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2408566.pdf

"HOST SPECIFICITY AND ORIENTATION TOWARDS FOOD OF ODONTOPUS NIGRICORNIS STAL. (HETEROPTERA –PYRRHOCOROIDEA), A PEST OF PTERYGOTA ALATA ROXB. ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 8, page no. ppe559-e565, August-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2408566.pdf