Biology of Leucinodes orbonalis

The study on biology of L. orbonalis while they were rearing on alternate host potatoat Coimbatore during the period 2013/14 revealed that there were five distinct larval instars in the lifecycle of L. orbonalis. Further the study stated that the season Kharif, 2013 prolonged the developmental period of L. orbonalis whereas which was shortened in the season Rabi, 2014. The incubation period of eggs of L. orbonalis, the developmental period of 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th instar larvae, pre-pupae, pupae, male and female moths were 3.7, 2.8, 2.8, 2.7, 2.5, 5.2, 1.7, 7.8, 2.4 and 3.5 days respectively in Kharif, 2013 and 2.6, 1.3, 1.5, 2.3, 2.4, 3.4, 1.8, 6.1, 1.5 and 2.5 days respectively in Rabi 2014. The L. orbonalis completed eight marked generations in a year (2013/14) and in each generation the moth has completed their lifecycle in 28.3, 29.7, 30.1, 30.1, 28.3, 24.6, 21.8 and 19.8 days respectively.