Studies on Aptopus opata and its Consequences on different Weed and Crops; A Novel Approach from Sindh-Pakistan
Studies on Aptopus opata and its Consequences on different Weed and Crops; A Novel Approach from Sindh-Pakistan
Shabana Mangi1, Waheed Ali Panhwar1, Abdul Manan Shaikh1, G. Sarwar Solangi2, Khalid Hussain Rind3, Nazir Ahmed Abro4, Zaibun-nisa Memon1, Gul Hafeeza Lund1 and Paras Somroo1
ABSTRACT
Aptopus opata (Johnson. Pj, 2018) is a native to Mexico that was first time reported from village Gadeji, district Khairpur Sindh Province of Pakistan during 2018-19. The instant species causes significant damage to crops, feeding on different weeds including; Gnaphalium, Convolvulus arvensis, Amaranthus and Cortaderia sellona, while the crops include; maize, potatoes, tomatoes, sugar cane. Its larva is known as wireworm that is yellowish to brown in color. The members of this genus badly affect the economy of the growers in the affected areas. Aptopus opata is a differ from the closely related species on the taxonomical basis including male genitalia and external morphology represented as its body is lengthened, brown to blackish in body coloration, with densely coarse punctures on whole body, frons depressed, prontal angles tapered, lengthened, scutellum shield shaped trigonal spots, 1st to 3rd antennomers quadrates, clypeus bigonal, legs lengthened, tarsi denticated, 5 claws on tarsi, meta tarsi slightly smooth. Male genitalia (aedeagus) is wider than longer, base broader, lateral lobe of parameres slightly bigonal, lateral margins with golden hairs, median lobe of parameres broad at base, rapidly narrowing apically, hairs like structure view from the ventral aspects. The instant discovery will help the growers and technical personals to identify the instant species easily and its identification will help in these control of the referred species. Further studies are suggested to explore its nature of damage.
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