Dear Dr. P. Oudhia'

I would like to join society for parthenium management, and as such kindly send me the membership details. i am presently working as lecturer in the department of zoology, university of jammu. my feild of specialization is entomology. not much work has been done on parthenium control in jammu region. recently i recorded quite a build up of zygogramma beetle in different areas of jammu region feeding vigourously on parthenium in some pockets. i have recorded the lifecycle of this beetle in jammu during premonsoon and during the monsoon period and also various aspects of its biology. i have also taken photographs of it and its different stages along with the damage caused to the parthenium.i would like to study its impact in contoling parthenium which has spread to all corners of jammu. i shall feel grateful if you very kindly send me your expert comments and more on biocontrol of this weed. kindly also include my name in directory of the scientists in international parthenium
news group. looking forward to hear from you soon 

thanking you

with regards and best wishes
Dr. Sanjay Bhatia

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Dear Sir ,
I am Harsha Balasooriya, Student Postgraduate instutute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka.

Parthenium weed was first observed in 1999 in Sri Lanka and it spreading very aggressive way. Thies day i am writing my M.phi proposal on the Parthenium weed (Topic related to destibution , control and develop model for parthenim ).

I would like to join the newgoup  it is very advantage to me for my studies and my research work.  Plese send me the deatil how  join the newsgorup.  

Thanks
Harsha Balasooriya, Dept of Crop Science.

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The Beetle, Zygogramma population has steadily declined in the rural areas. along road sides in urban areas. A survey across Tumkur, Hassan, Chitradurga and Shimoga districts in Karnataka during 2000-2002 revealed that only few beetles were sighted and Parthenium defoliation was negligible compared to 5 years early,
so long term monitoring is required to judge the efficiency and establishment of the bio agent for supressing the weed.In my assesment the beetle at the point of release appeared to supress the weed fully or partially first few years.Subsequently the beetle population is unable to check the spread and multiplication of weeds.This is either because the population emmigrates or subsides at the point/patch of release. The beetles may also suffer mortality.Density of the beetles did not corroborate with the  density of the weed in a patch.

However in Australia the beetles establish and defoliate Parthenium only in a patch, but do not disperse.This change in behaviour is interesting and needs to be further investigated. In Southeren Karnataka the area under Sunflower crop has drastically reduced due to bud necrosis disease. Hence the feeding of beetles on Sunflower crop could not be ascertained.

With Regards
A.K.Chakravarthy, Bangalore.

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