Studies on life cycle of oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta Busck (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) infesting cherry in Kashmir valley

Abstract

The life cycle studies of oriental fruit moth under laboratory conditions showed that incubation period lasted for 7-9 days, larval period lasted for 22-26 days, pre-pupal period lasted for 2-3 days, pupal period lasted for 15-18 days, adult period lasted for 9-11 days and total duration of life cycle was 55-66 days. While, under natural conditions the duration of life cycle is reduced up to 42-52 days. Morphometric data revealed that the average body length and width of head capsule of 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd , 4 th and 5th instar larvae were 1.7 and 0.26, 4.2 and 0.40 mm; 6.3 and 0.60 mm; 8.5 and 0.94 mm; 13.0 and 1.41 mm, respectively.