Friday, January 12, 2007 - 8:30 AM

Morphometric Analysis of Lygus Species from Texas

Ram B. Shrestha and Anup Bastola. Texas AgriLife Research, 1102 East FM 1294, Lubbock, TX 79403

Abstract

Many insect species had shown great morphometric plasticity as their evolutionary characteristics. Lygus species also have wide range of within species, between species and between sexes morphometric variation. Within species and between sexes morphometric plasticity often causes difficulty and confusion in correct species identification by using qualitative taxonomic key. Thus the morphometric analysis of various characters is very helpful in better differentiation of species in Lygus complex. Lygus samples were collected from 4 different locations (100 mile apart) in Texas from different hosts with sweep-net and preserved in 90% ethyl alcohol at 20 oC. From each sampling population 50 insect were photographed under stereo microscope with standard light condition and magnification using digital camera. Four character parameters (size, shape, color and texture) of all possible body parts of adult Lygus were recorded from the digital photograph of the individual insect using various computer software. The male and female genital organs were also photographed and measured similarly. The morphometric data were subjected to multivariate discriminant analysis and the results from various analyses will be discussed. The image and data generated in this study can be used in automation of the Lygus identification by computer vision technology.


Recorded presentation