Rita Jayaraj

Lesser known Embiids Rita Jayaraj

The world literature pertaining to embiidae is reviewed up to date. The review reveals the paucity of the literature on the Indian embiids. An outline of the general morphology of the Embiidina, is given mostly based upon two species of Oligotoma saundersii (Westwood) and Pseudembia flava Ross. The bio-ecology of two species of embiidina, is studied with particular reference to their habitat preferences, host plants commonly adopted, feeding behaviour, sub-social behaviour, mating and ovipositing behaviour and fecundity. The grooming behaviour of the two species of embiids throws light upon the evolutionary relationships among the orthopteroid group of insects. The spinning behaviour of the embiids is studied. The relation between the host-plant biochemistry and the composition of the hemolymph of the embiids is studied adopting conventional methods. The interspecific relationships of the two species of embiids are studied. In the light of the above observations the results were discussed in conjunction with those of earlier investigators.