1Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Rajendra Agricultural University, Bihar, Pusa (Samastipur)-848 125 (India).
2Department of Entomology, Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour, Bhagalpur (India).
The population of Antigastra catalaunalis Dup. reached its peak during the first and second weeks of September on sesamum. The female moth laid eggs singly just after copulation on the underside of tender leaves, apex of twigs, flowers and pods during night. The preoviposition and oviposition periods varied from 2.0 to 6.5 and 4.15 to 5.25 days, respectively. The fecundity of female moth was highest (83.50) during June, 1988 and lowest (22.0) in January 1989. The incubation, larval and pupal periods varied from 2.10 to 7.10, 9.80 to 28.30, and 5.40 to 14.0 days, respectively. The total duration of life cycle of the sesamum shoot and leaf webber ranged between 18.0 and 49.40 days during different months of the year 1988–89. The longevity of male and female ranged from 6.20 to 8.25 and 7.02 to 10.65 days, respectively during different months.
