Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030, Andhra Pradesh, (India).
1Crop Protection Division, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi Arid Tropics, Patancheru-502324, Andhra Pradesh, (India).
The effect of five levels of constant temperatures, viz., 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C was evaluated on the development of different stages of Thrips palmi Karny on detached groundnut leaflets. The fecundity was more at 25°C and a very few eggs were laid by the female at 35°C. The adult emergence, adult longevity, and total number of larvae produced per female were also more at 25°C. Evidently, 25°C proved to be the optimum temperature for rearing T. palmi under laboratory conditions, where the photoperiod 12: 12 h (light: dark) and 75±10% R.H. were maintained in the incubator.
