Biology of pomegranate fruit borer, Deudorix isocrates (Fab.) (Lycaenidae: lepidoptera) on pomegranate, Punica granatum L

Abstract

The studies on biology of fruit borer, Deudorix isocrates Fabricius on pomegranate as hosts carried out under laboratory conditions revealed that the total developmental period was completed within 67.00 ± 8.67 days through five larval instars on pomegranate. The average longevity of female and male moth was 9.50 ± 1.27 and 8.10 ± 0.88 days when reared on pomegranate. The mean number of eggs laid by female moth developed from larva fed on the fruits of pomegranate was 27.70 ± 3.56 eggs per female. The sex ratio (F/M) of emerged adults was found 1.82: 1, while the mean duration of mating i.e. coitus was 76.70 ± 10.84 minutes on pomegranate.