STUDIES ON THE DIGESTIVE TRACT OF NEZARA VIRIDULA LINN. AND MODIFICATIONS RELATED TO WATER CONSERVATION

Nezara viridula Linn. (Green Stink bug) is a polyphagous greenish bug which has world wide distribution. Its host plants include Pennisetum typhoides (Bulrush millet or Peral millet, Bajara), Trifolium alexandrium (Berseme), Cannabis sativa (Indian Hemp.), Glycine max. (Soybean) and other wild native plants in Saharanpur. The infestation is maximum during milky stage of the young plants. The digestive system of the green stink bug is divisible into stomodaeum or fore gut and associated gland, mesenteron, or midgut and proctodaeum or hind gut. The total length of gut in both sexes, shows difference i.e. 5.2 cm (in male) and 6.4 cm. (in female). The midgut is divisible into midgut first, midgut second, midgut third and midgut fourth. The present study is on the water conservation. A mechanism in the gut water conservation device has been localized in the gut of N. viridula as a characteristic feature which includes the anterior part of the bladder like saccular retum called ileum and the dorsal posterior invagination of the midgut first. During the study of anatomy, it has been observed that the malpighian tubules arising from the junction of the midgut fourth and ileum are bent towards closely approximated midgut first on the posterior region this observation shows that the excess of water content enters from ileum to the midgut first. Hence, it is assigned the role for the purpose of water conservation i.e. from ileum re-entry into midgut first region.