Biology of Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on eggplant and tomato

The study mainly focussed on monitoring different life stages viz., egg, nymphal instars, pupae and adults. The present investigation revealed that mean pre-oviposition, oviposition and post oviposition period were 1.50 and 3.70; 3.50 and 4.50 and 1.60 and 3.30 days on eggplant & tomato, respectively. Further, three nymphal instars were observed in the life history of B. tabaci with average duration of 3.50 and 5.70, 2.40 and 4.80 and 3.50 and 5.40 days for 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd instars on eggplant & tomato, respectively. The total mean nymphal period on eggplant and tomato was observed as 9.40 and 15.90 days respectively. In addition, the mean pupal period and adult longevity of B. tabaci on eggplant and tomato was 3.70 and 6.30 and 4.05 and 8.30 days respectively. The total life cycle from egg to adult ranged amid 16.5 to 22.5 days on eggplant while on tomato it lasted amid 29.5 to 38.0 days.