Life cycle of spotted pod borer, Maruca testulalis (Geyer) on blackgram.

A study on bionomics of Maruca testulalis (Geyer) [spotted pod borer] was carried out under the laboratory conditions at an average temperature of 26.5°C and 83.50 per cent relative humidity at Junagadh Agricultural University during 2008. The female moth laid eggs on the flower buds and flower surface or inner surface of glass jar. It measured on an average of 0.58 ± 0.015 mm in length and 0.38 ± 0.015 mm in breadth. The mean incubation period was 3.24 ± 0.72 days. The larva passed through the five distinct instars before attaining the pupal stage. The average duration of first, second, third, fourth and fifth instar larva were 2.12 ± 0.66, 2.80 ± 0.70, 2.76 ± 0.66, 2.76 ± 0.72 and 3.60 ± 0.64 days respectively and they measured on an average of 3.20 ± 0.87, 4.38 ± 0.29, 9.12 ± 0.28, 10.51 ± 0.55, 15.67 ± 0.53 mm in length and 0.71 ± 0.15, 0.77 ± 0.12, 1.9 ± 0.12, 2.57 ± 0.10, 3.02 ± 0.11 mm in breadth respectively. The mean total larval period was 14.04 ± 0.97 days. The average pupal period was 10.84 ± 1.79 days and measured on an average of 12.53 ± 0.14 mm in length and 3.11 ± 0.14 mm in breadth. The adult moth had medium brown wings and creamy white to brown body with long legs. The longevity of female and male moth was 8.06 ± 1.90 and 6.24 ± 1.33 days respectively. The preoviposition, oviposition and post oviposition periods were on an average 1.76 ± 0.72, 3.8 ± 0.79 and 2.84 ± 0.80 days respectively. The total number of eggs laid by a single female was on an average of 38.8 ± 3.85 eggs. The total life cycle from egg to emergence of adult was completed within 26.25 ± 1.44 days and 32.04 ± 2.97 days by male and female respectively.