Biology of Trogoderma granarium Everts on wheat grain

Abstract

Studies on biology of khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Evert (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on wheat grain (variety WH 711) were conducted during July-August, 2013 in the Department of Entomology, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. Rearing of the pest was done in the incubator maintained at 30±2oC and 65±5% relative humidity. The results showed that a female laid 57.83±4.31 eggs during its life span with 63.77 percent egg hatchability. The larva passed through five instars with mean duration of 3.9 ± 0.23, 5.05 ± 0.20, 5.75 ± 0.40, 6.4 ± 0.41, and 6.8 ± 0.25 days for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th instar, respectively. Mean total duration of the larva was 27.9 ± 0.57 days. Pupal period was 3 -7 days with a mean duration of 4.85± 0.22 days, while adult stage lasted for 11-18 (mean: 14.75± 0.53) days. Pre-oviposition, oviposition and post oviposition periods were 2.93 ± 0.28, 4.83± 0.41 and 2.33 ± 0.29 days, respectively.