Biology of pulses blue butterfly, Lampides boeticus linn.

Biology and morphometrics of blue butterfly, Lampides boeticus infesting green gram, Vigna radiata was studied. The eggs were disc-shaped, finely sculptured and pale green to ashy grey with the mean dia. of 0.572±0.003. The mean egg period and mean % hatchability observed were 74.08± 0.89 hrs and 76.42±1.76%, respectively. There were four larval instars which were occasionally cannibalistic. The later instars were found attended by black ants in the field. The first instar caterpillar was fringed with hairs while second instar had sparse hairs. The third and fourth instar caterpillars were slug like, pea green in colour. The average sizes of the head capsule from first to fourth instars were found to be 0.20, 0.41, 0.68 and 0.99 mm, respectively. The average larval, pre-pupal and pupal duration lasted for 11.98, 1.37 and 5.80 days, respectively. Mating commenced on the appearance of bright sunlight and continued up to 65 minutes. Males were found to live a day or two lesser than females. The fecundity varied from 120.57±5.32 eggs/female.