Report on the occurrence of sweet potato bug, Physomerus grossipes Fab. (Hemiptera: Coreidae) on dwarf Mussaenda, Musssaenda glabra in Gujarat

Abstract

A study was conducted to identify the new pest observed infesting dwarf mussaenda plant grown nearby college farm, Anand Agricultural University, Jabugam during September, 2018. For further study, nymphs and adults brought to the laboratory of Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Jabugam for identification. Based on the morphological characters of the nymph and adult as well as DNA fingerprinting, it is confirmed that the pest is P. grossipes which is a new pest on M. glabra and first time reported from Gujarat, India.