The Plant Bug, Megacoelum biseratense (Distant) : New Potentially Key Pest of Cotton

Abstract

The study showing the plant bug, Megacoelum biseratense, potentially become key pest of cotton, was conducted at Suwan Farm during 1996-1998. AP₁ and AP₂, the mutant lines, moderately resistant to the american bollworm, and SR₂, the recommended variety, were used in the test employing RCB with 4 replicates. The result revealed 2 major insects attacking cotton at almost every growing stage. The plant bug numbers found on AP₁ and AP₂ in 1996 and 1997 were significantly different from those in 1998 while the opposite was noticed in SR₂. Comparing with the jassid, the present cotton key pest, whose number significantly decreased in years in all 3 variety/lines, the amount of plant bug increased with time. The shedding of squares and bolls also indicated the increasing importance of the plant bug.