Keerthi Rao

Dermestid beetles and some other insect pests associated with stored silkworm cocoons in India, including a world list of dermestid species found attacking this commodity

A key for the identification of adult and mature larvae of nine species of Dermestidae (Coleoptera) found associated with the Indian silkworm industry is given. The species included are Dermestes ater De Geer, Dermestes leechi Kalik, Dermestes maculatus De Geer, Dermestes undulatus Brahm, Attagenus birmanicus Arrow, Attagenus fasciatus (Thunberg), Orphinus fulvipes (Guerin-Meneville), Trogoderma halsteadi Vijay Veer and Rao, and Anthrenus flavipes (Le Conte). Notes on the biology and distribution are given for all species and detailed morphological descriptions of adult and mature larval stages are presented for D. ater, D. leechi, Att. birmanicus and O. fulvipes. D. ater and Att. fasciatus and T. halsteadi are serious pests of silkworm cocoons which are damaged by larvae boring into them to feed on pupae. Some information is given on damage to silk fabrics. Att. birmanicus and O. fulvipes are recorded for the first time as minor pests of the silkworm industry in India. A world list of 28 dermestid species recorded in association with the silk industry is appended. In addition, brief notes are included on three other beetles, Alphitobius laevigatus (F.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Tenebrionidae) and Necrobia rufipes (De Geer) (Cleridae), and an earwig, Marava arachidis (Yersin), which were also found associated with sericulture in India.

Sensory organs on the body parts of the bed-bug Cimex hemipterus fabricius (Hemiptera : Cimicidae) and the anatomy of its central nervous system

Abstract Anatomy of the sensory organs on the prominent body parts of the adult bed-bug Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) and its central nervous system (CNS) was studied by light, transmission, or scanning electron microscopy. The distal tips of antenna and rostrum were found to have rich complements of sensilla. The antenna has both olfactory and gustatory sensilla. Olfactory sensilla project to the antennal lobe organized in the form of glomeruli, while the 2nd component, presumably from gustatory sensilla, projects to the suboesophageal ganglion. The ultrastructure of the sensory pegs on the rostrum of C. hemipterus does not resemble the chemosensilla of adult insects; rather they resemble the larval sensilla of Drosophila melanogaster in the maxillary organ. Earlier we believed this to be a gustatory organ. A few similar sensilla also occur on the antenna, indicating its multimodal role. Amongst the 3 types of sensory hairs located on legs, there are only a few gustatory hairs (7–10 hairs) on the tibia. The pointed and serrate mechanosensory hair types occur in abundance; the serrate type are prominently present on the lateral surface of the legs. On other parts of the body such as the thorax or abdomen, serrate hairs are most abundant. Both the distal segment of antenna and rostrum are invested by 2 nerves, where the axon counts of the 2 antennal nerves are 380 and 425, while each rostral nerve on average has 205 axons. Abundant clusters of microtubules were found in the brain, thoracio-abdominal ganglia, leg-nerves, and the space between muscles and cuticle. These conspicuous microtubule-clusters occur in interaxonal space, mainly glial cells, in the nervous system. In addition, the glial cells have osmiophilic junctions amongst themselves. A novel “hinge and joint” system, which controls the cross-section of the food canal and the salivary duct in an inversely related manner, was found in the rostrum of the bed-bug.

Taxonomic and biological notes on Attagenus and Anthrenus spp (Coleoptera : Dermestidae) found damaging stored woollen fabrics in India

Abstract Keys for the identification of the adult and mature larval stages together with morphological description and notes on distribution and biology are given for Attagenus cyphonoides Reitter, Attagenus fasciatus (Thunberg), Attagenus lobatus Rosenhauer, Anthrenus coloratus Reitter, Anthrenus flavipes LeConte, and Anthrenus oceanicus Fauvel. These six species are recorded from stored woollen and other keratinaceous material in India. Anthrenus flavipes, Anthrenus oceanicus, and Attagenus cyphonoides are described as serious pests of woollen goods and Anthrenus coloratus is recorded as a museum pest. Attagenus lobatus and Anthrenus oceanicus are recorded from India for the first time.

Sensilla on the maxillary and labial palps of the cockroach Supella longipalpa fabricius (Dictyoptera : Blattellidae)

Abstract Sensory structures on the maxillary and labial palps of Supella longipalpa (Dictyoptera : Blattellidae) were examined by light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Maximum variety of sensilla, including olfactory, gustatory, and mechanosensory, were found on the most distal segments of maxillary as well as labial palps. The maxillary palp has a long micro-furrow near the ventral edge of the medial surface of the fifth segment, which has a high population density of 73,700 sensilla/sq. mm 2 . These sanilla are mostly 3–5-μm-high, 1.5–1.8-μm-thick pegs with grooves along the hair-shaft and a slit near the distal tip. The slit and the typical arched fenestration at the tip, may allow the dendrites to sample the external environment. This groove-and-slit sensillum is a new sensillum described for the first time in insects, and we designate it as GAS sensillum. Based on its morphology and also its sensory projections leading to the antennal lobes of the brain, as revealed by cobalt(II) uptake, the GAS sensillum appears to be olfactory. The sensillary complement on both palps is qualitatively similar, except for the presence of GAS sensilla on the maxillary palp. However, the quantitative estimates of the number of sensilla on both maxillary and labial palps of females as well as males, show that both palps have sexual dimorphism. S. longipalpa males have more chemosensilla on the maxillary palp and more taste sensilla on the labial palp than females. Uptake of cobalt(II) by sensilla on the distal region of the maxillary palps shows an olfactory component, projecting to the glomeruli of the antennal lobe, whereas the gustatory and mechanosensory projections of sensilla on the maxillary as well as labial palps, are mainly confined to the suboesophageal ganglion.

Taxonomic and biological notes on three Attagenus spp. (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) not previously recorded as pests of stored woollen fabrics in India

The adult morphology of Attagenus birmanicus Arrow is briefly described and detailed morphological descriptions for adult and mature larval stages of Attagenus indicus Kalik and a variety of Attagenus augustatus gobicola Frivaldszky are given. Notes on the biology of the last two species, including new information on A. indicus, are presented. A. augustatus gobicola is recorded from India for the first time and all three species are recorded as new pests of stored woollen fabrics and garments in this country.

Effect of Motor Control Program in Improving Gross Motor Function and Postural Control in Children with Sensorineural Hearing Loss-A Pilot Study

Background: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common type of permanent hearing impairment and results from damage to the inner ear or the nerve pathway. Children with hearing impairment have balance and motor deficits primarily due to concomitant damage to the vestibular structures. Objective: To study the effect of motor control program on improvement of gross motor function and postural control in children with sensorineural hearing loss. Methods: A pre-post testtrial consisting of 10 participants between the age group of 6 to 12 years with the clinical diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss. Participants received exercise sessions including 10 min of activities in the following categories: eye hand co-ordination and visual motor training, balance training, activities to improve general co-ordination for 3 days a week for 12 weeks. The outcome was assessed in terms of Pediatric Balance scale (PBS), Test for Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2). Result: There was highly significant difference seen in scores of both TGMD-2 and PBS (p<0.01). Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest thatmotor control program including eye-hand co-ordination, visuomotor training, balance training and general co-ordination exercises can be useful to maintain gross motor skills and postural control in children with sensorineural hearing loss.

Descriptions of adult and larval morphology of Evorinea indica (Arrow) (Coleoptera: Dermestidae).

Abstract Illustrated morphological descriptions of the adult and larval stages of Evorinea indica (Arrow) are presented. Evorinea hisamatsui Ohbayashi is placed as a junior synonym of E. indica. Brief taxonomic and biological notes are included. This species is known so far from India, Japan and Taiwan and is bivoltine in nature, the adults appearing from June to July and again from September to November in India.

A new species of Trogoderma (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) found damaging stored silkworm cocoons in India.

Abstract Trogoderma halsteadi sp. nov. is described from Dehradun (Uttar Pradesh), India where it was found infesting mulberry silkworm cocoons. The description is fully illustrated and includes the larval stage. The species is characterized by the antennal club which is 8-segmented and pectinate in the male and 5- to 6-segmented and symmetrical in the female, and the lack of discal oblique striae on the metasternum and first abdominal sternite. Mature larvae have antennal segment III with the proximal sensory pore at the basal third and segment I (basal) with 8 nudisetae and one spiciseta arranged around two thirds of the base of this segment.

Deltamethrin Spray as an Insect Repellent for Woolen Fabrics

The effectiveness of solvent-based deltamethrin sprays at 0.025 and 0.05% concen tration, resulting in 0.029 and 0.052% oww, respectively, were evaluated against the larvae of the case making clothes moth Tinea translucens Meyrick and the furniture carpet beetle Anthrenus flavipes LeConte. Deltamethrin spray at 0.025% concentration provided a high degree of protection to wool fabric from the larval damage of insect pests even after 30 months of ageing in dark storage. A spray of 0.029% oww delta methrin also protected the fabric after five drycleanings from the Tinea translucens larvae.

Can Telerehabilitation Add a New Dimension in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis Knee

This report describes a case of an intraspinal extradural cyst arising from the C7-T1 zygapophyseal joint, resulting in spinal cord compression with the presentation of minimal pain and no pathologic neurologic findings. A 71-yearold male presents with a 4-month history moderate neck pain, radiating to the left shoulder. Physical examination revealed no motor or sensory deficits. Muscle stretch reflexes were intact in bilateral upper and lower extremities, and there was no imbalance with ambulation. Cervical MRI revealed a large cystic structure arising from the left C7-T1 zygapophyseal joint a causing compression of the spinal cord. He was managed conservatively with physical therapy given his level of pain and lack of neurological deficits and demonstrated improvement in his symptoms. Despite their rare occurrence, cervical intraspinal cysts causing cord compression can be considered a source of mild neck pain and can be managed conservatively in the absence of neurological symptoms.