Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 012 India
Online published on 3 November, 2011.
Deformed moulting was observed in 45 and 22 per cent population of 5th instar nymphs and larvae of Dysdercus koenigii (Fab.) and Diacrasia obliqua Walker respectively when 5μg a-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) was topically applied on ventral side of individuals. When administered in food @ 25μg/insect, it produced 16 per cent incomplete pupae and 12 per cent abnormal adults in D. obliqua. Female susceptibility to HCH treatment was evident in D. koenigii when 14.7 per cent females survived as against 47 3 per cent normal males. Ovary in females, moulted from nymphal treatment, showed underdeveloped eggs in 70 per cent of the population.
