Biology of flower bud maggot Dasineura gossypii Fletcher an emerging pest of Cotton

The present investigation revealed that different life stages of D. gossypii viz., eggs, first instar maggot, second instar maggot, third instar maggot, pupal period, adult stage (male) and adult stage (female) were of 4.3 ± 0.57, 1.7 ± 0.45, 2.8 ± 0.45, 3.5 ± 0.5, 4.1 ± 0.82, 1.3 ± 0.45 and 2.75 ± 0.56 days, respectively. Eggs were observed on flower buds just near the ovary. There were 2–14 maggots in a flower bud observed 3–5 days after oviposition. The maggot is damaging stage of this pest. It feed on anthers, stamenal column leading to degradation of reproductive organ, death and twisting of infested flowers buds. The pupation take place inside dried flowers. Adults were minute, soft bodied, orange in colour, weak flier and short lived. Males and females distinguished by the presence of ovipositor or by intensity of hairs in antennae which are more in males compared to females. There 3–4 generations per season recorded. The infested squares/flowers buds were not turn into a bolls were not reach to normal size and remained smaller.