The lace bug Cochlochila bullita (Stål) (Heteroptera: Tingidae), a potential pest of Orthosiphon stamineus Bentham (Lamiales: Lamiaceae) in Malaysia

Authors

Ahmad Said Sajap, University Putra MalaysiaFollow
Tan Li Peng, University Putra MalaysiaFollow

Date of this Version

9-24-2010

Comments

Published in Insecta Mundi 0136: 1-5. Published in 2010 by Center for Systematic Entomology, Inc., P. O. Box 141874, Gainesville, FL 32614-1874 U. S. A. http://www.centerforsystematicentomology.org/

Abstract

Orthosiphon stamineus Bentham, a medicinal plant in the family Lamiaceae, is used to make a well known herbal tea in many countries including Malaysia. Since its establishment as an important cash crop, the herb has been relatively free from any serious insect problems until recently. In Selangor, Malaysia we observed the herb heavily infested by the lace bug Cochlochila bullita Stål (Heteroptera: Tingidae). This is the first record of its occurrence in Malaysia and also the first record on the host plant, O. stamineus. The lace bug damages the host plant by piercing and sucking young leaves and shoots, resulting in the curling and drying of the leaves and shoots. The infestation pattern and survival of C. bullita on O. stamineus indicates this lace bug has the potential to be a serious pest of this medicinal plant.