Biology studies of Melanitis leda (Linnaeus, 1758) using Dyar’s law

Abstract

The larvae of Melanitis leda were reared under laboratory conditions during September 2016. The study is mainly focussed on the application of Dyar’s law in the Lepidopteran pest and to check the geometric progression of the M. leda. The eggs were collected and reared in Guinea grass Megathyrsus maximus after consequent hatching. The head capsule measurements (widest head width) were taken in the moulted head capsules. The common evening brown undergoes 5 instars with a maximum and minimum head width of 1.123 and 2.78 mm respectively. The mean geometric progression in the growth of M. leda was observed to be 1.21.