Department ot Entomology, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar-751 003 (Orissa) (India).
*A part of approved Ph. D thesis submitted by B. N. Mohanty to the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar (Orissa).
The reproductive behaviour of the defoliator of rice, Nisaga simplex Walk., was studied during 1989 and 1990 at the Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology Regional Research Station, Kalahandi and in the Department of Entomology, Bhubaneswar. The biological paramteres, viz., pre-mating, mating, post-mating periods were 11.0, 3.27 and 4.07 h, respectively. Similarly, the pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-ovi-position periods of mated and unmated female moths were observed as 18.5, 52.1, 36.0 h and 23.3, 31.7, 22.4 h, respectively. The mated female laid more number of fertile eggs (246.8). Adult longevity of mated sexes was more (106.6 h female, 98.4 h male) in comparison to unmated moths (77.4 h female, 91.1 h male). Mating had profound influence on longevity and fecundity of females. Again, the mated females laid eggs singly in rows. The unmated moths laid erratic, scattered eggs and that too in heaps.
