Biology of khapra beetle Trogoderma granarium on wheat varieties

Khapra beetle Trogoderma granarium is a destructive and voracious feeder of several stored products such as wheat, maize and rice, and it is a quarantine pest for wheat producing countries like Pakistan. The present study evaluated its biological and morphological parameters on different wheat varieties. The results revealed that its incubation period was varied from 7.01-8.91 days, being longest on the variety Faisalabad-08, and shortest on Sehar-06. Its total developmental period from egg-adult varied from 48.44- 64.16 days, respectively; male and female longevity was 19.14, and 17.02 days on Sehar-06. The weight of 6^th instar larvae ranged from 6.21 to 7.11 mg, while the survival was maximum and minimum on Sehar-06 and Faisalabad-08, respectively. The minimum and maximum weight losses were observed in Faisalabad-08 and Sehar-06, respectively. Thus, Sehar-06 was observed to be the most susceptible variety giving maximum fertility and fecundity.