Biology and behaviour of developing stages of fruit sucking moth, Othreis materna Linn. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The period of life history of fruit sucking moth, Othreis materna (Linn.) from egg to the death of adults was 44 to 54 days in males and 49 to 60 days in females respectively. Adults are adapted for sucking the juice from fruits. The sexual dimorphism in both the sexes was exhibited by the unique spotted colouration of forewings. Mating occurs at night after 24 to 48 hours of emergence and oviposition generally occured in early morning before sunrise. The larvae feed selectively on the leaves of gulwell, Tinospora cardifolia. They show cannibalistic tendencies in the absence of food. All larval instars possess yellowish, white, orange and blue coloured spots but the 2^nd and 3^rd abdominal segments of fourth and fifth instar larvae are characterized by possessing prominent, large orange-white coloured paired eye spots. The pupa is obtect type and dark brown in colour having distinct wing pads.