Bionomics of Soybean Pod Borer, Cydia ptychora (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) under in vitro Condition

The post-flowering pest pod borer, Cydia ptychora causing huge yield losses in soybean. It is said to be active in soybean ecosystem from September to December with 10.50-91.29 per cent incidence. The maximum incidence (95.55%) was observed to be in July sown crop.

Culture of the insect was initiated by collecting larvae and pupae from infected soybean crop and was shifted to rearing cages. Ten pairs of newly emerged adult moths were released in plastic container containing soybean pods for oviposition. On hatching, larvae were reared on soybean pods till pupation. Moist sand was provided for pupation. Further, the life cycle was tracked thoroughly to understand bionomics.

Freshly laid eggs were pearly white, translucent, spherical having mean length of 0.49±0.016 mm and 0.31±0.009 mm width. Larval development completed within 20.86±4.59 days passing through five instars. The pupal period lasted for 9.13±2.45 days. Longevity of male and female was 1.90±0.80 and 4.93±1.60 days respectively. The total life cycle of the pod borer from egg to adult was 34.53±4.90 days.