Biology and morphomatric study of leaf eating caterpillar, Diaphania indica in cucurbit in hot arid region of India

The biology and morphomatric study of leaf eating caterpillar, D. indica in cucurbit was conducted at ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Bikaner during 2015-16. The average eggs laid per female were 162.70 ± 31.84. Eggs are laid on leaves or young shoots or fruits.  The average incubation period was 3.53 ± .040 days under laboratory conditions. The duration of first instar larva was 1.90 ± 0.63 days. The duration of second instar larva was 2.60 ± 0.36 days. The duration of third instar larva was 1.50 ± .37 days. The duration of fourth instar larva was 1.48 ± 0.30 days. The fifth instar larva period lasted 1.43 ± 0.34 days.The pre-pupal and pupal periods were 2.38 ± 0.62 and 9.20 ± 1.42 days, respectively. Adult longevity was observed 9.98± 1.45 under laboratory conditions. They are 0.85±0.017 in length and 0.39± 0.008 mm width. The length of I st  instar larvae is 4.30± 0.135mm and width is 0.53±0.019 mm. The length of II nd , III rd  and IV th   larvae are 5.47±0.153 mm, 9.51±0.187 mm  and 14.81±0.121 mm, respectively. The fifth  instar larva is 18.10±0.125 mm length and 3.28±0.043 mm width. Pupa is 13.66±0.088 mm length and 2.28±0.043 mm width.  Adult female  body  length  was  11.19±0.211  mm  and  width  24.54±0.201  with  wing  expansion.  The  male  body  length  is 11.00±0.159 mm and width 22.85±0.156 mm with wing expansion. The length of male and female antenna is 9.01±0.024 mm and 9.24±0.058 mm.