Oxyrachis tarandus Fab. (Homoptera: Membracidae) on rose apple (Syzygium aqueum)

Abstract

Oxyrachis tarandus Fab. (Homoptera: Membracidae), commonly known as cow horn bug or treehopper was found heavily infested on rose apple (Syzygium aqueum (Burm.f.) Alston, Myrtaceae). Infestation caused wilting, defoliation and structural abnormalities of fruits in S. aqueum and was found in 81 patches within a tree, which is further divided into peduncle, PD (48 patches), young terminal branches, YTB (20), older twig, OT (13), main bark, MB (0) and leaf, L (0). Infestation of shoot length ranged from 3 to 25 cm comprising a surface area of 5.47 to 25.47 cm2. Population density of cow horn bug was significantly higher in PD compared to YTB and OT and peak infestation was noted during last week of March and first week of April. Prominent mutualism between O. tarandus and ant Oecophylla smaragdina was noted with strong positive correlation.