The study of head capsule width of different larval instars of Indian Gypsy Moth Lymantria obfuscata Walker in Himachal Pradesh (India)

Abstract

The mean width (n=5) of the cephalic capsule instar of Lymantria obfuscata (Indian Gypsy Moth) was determined. During the course of investigation, average temperature and relative humidity were 19.98±4.53 oC and 58.46±16.62%, respectively. The results showed that the life cycle of Indian Gypsy Moth has six larval stages. The head capsule width of the 1 st instar larvae measured was 0.75±0.03 (Mean ± SD) and the last instar was 4.28±0.04 (Mean ± SD). The growth rate as determined by Dyar’s rule, was 1.43. The data recorded may be helpful for further studies on phenology and the control of L. obfuscata in the forest ecosystem.