Biology of bunch caterpillar, Andraca bipunctata walker- A major insect pest of tea in north-east India

Certain aspects of the biology of Bunch caterpillar, Andraca bipunctata Walker feeding on tea Camellia sinensis was carried out in the laboratory. The incubation period was found to be 3.72±0.04 days with hatching of 71.50±1.89%. The average length and breadth of eggs were found to be 1.41±0.01 mm and 1.30±0.01 mm, respectively. The larvae pass through five instars with a total larval period of 34.14±1.96 days. Duration of pre-pupal and pupal phase was found 1.56±0.44 days and 31.70±4.03 days, respectively. The longevity of male and female was found 11.76±2.39 days and 13.17±3.40 days, respectively. The average duration of pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods were found to be 1.52±0.48, 3.78±1.22 and 6.02±2.84 days, respectively. The fecundity was found to be 400.20±36.34 per female and total life period was 61.18±0.88 days.