A NOTE ON THE ELYTRAL PATTERN AND THE BIONOMICS OF EPILACHNA SEPTIMA IN BATTICALOA, SRI LANKA (COLEOPTERA, COCCINELLIDAE)

M. Dharmaretnam
2002 Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka  
Epilachninae is a phytophagous group among the Coccinellidae and some species are major pests causing extensive damage to leaves and fruits of crops. The identification of the Epilachna species found in Sri Lanka has been erroneously reported in locally available literature. Two species of Epilachna were found in Batticaloa where the study was carried out: E. septima on cucurbits and E. vigintioctopunctata on brinjal. The identification of these two species is not based on the number of black
more » ... rkings on the elytra as stated in local literature but on other morphological characters, which include the shape of the elytra and the genital structures. The number of black spots varies among the progeny, 6 spots being the commonest. The biology of E. septima is also presented.
doi:10.4038/jnsfsr.v30i1-2.2558 fatcat:kvqbhbahkbhetpvlacpcgjctgm