Studies on Some Ethological Aspects of Cochlochilabullitastal (Heteroptera-Tingidae), A Serious Pest of Sweet Basil, Ocimum basilicum Linn (Lamiaceae)

C. bullita is an important tingid pest of O. basilicum which deposit eggs inside the host tissue usually in the veins of the leaf and tender stem. Rostral sensory setae help in the selection of oviposition site and saw like ovipositor makes deep puncturation for egg deposition from enemies as well as during extremes of cold and heat parental care is observed. Nymphs remain in aggregated form with the female. Negative phototropic responses have been observed for all nymphs and adults and prefer to live in the diffused light. During winter nymphs come on the dorsal surface of leaves or bark to the sun or warm up themselves. Moulting process lasts for 86 to 120 minutes and next nymphal instar or adult emerges out th through the split exuvium of previous instar or 5 instar nymph. During winter, low population of nymphal instars occurs and these two remain in quiescent stage and prolong nymphal developmental period. Clusters of nymphs in the groups of 10 to 15 were seen inside the curled leaves to avoid cold weather.