Biology of teak defoliator (Hyblaea puera cramer, hyblaeidae: lepidoptera)

The eggs of teak defoliator (Hyblaea puera Cramer, Hyblaeidae: Lepidoptera) were laid on leaves of Teak (Teetana grandis L.). The incubation period of eggs was 2.52 ± 0.45 days. The greenish yellow with black colored head of newly hatched larva was 1.96 ± 0.04 mm long. Larval period was completed within 13.83 ± 1.18 days through five in stars. Full grown larvae were 29.60 ± 1.83 mm long and 3.16 ± 0.24 mm wide, dark purple grey dorso-Iaterally and greenish yellow later ventrally, with a pale indistinct longitudinal line along the center of the back and two clear zigzag sub dorsal white lines on each side of the central line. The head was black colour. The average length and breadth of pre-pupa was 23.37 ± 2.04 mm in 14.38 ± 3.04 mm, respectively. The dark purplish brown colored pupa was formed in folded and webbed leaves. The average length and breadth of male pupa was 15.25± 0.65 and 4.02 ± 0.42 mm while, in female pupa it was 18.45±0.53 and 5.13±0.40 mm, respectively. The average pre-pupal and pupal stages lasted for 2.29 ± 0.56 days and 4.39 ± 0.64 days, respectively. Adult moths had a wingspan of 24 to 28 mm and their colour ranged from grayish to reddish brown with dark brown abdomen. The pre-oviposition, ovi position and post-oviposition periods of H. pueraaveraged 2.22 ± 0.41, 3.0 ± 1.25 and 3.28 ± 0.88 days, respectively. The average longevity of female and male was 7.50 ± 0.87 and 6.05 ± 1.19 days, respectively, while life cycle was completed within 25 to 29 and 24 to 29 days, respectively.