Biology studies of tobacco caterpillar, Spodoptera litura Fabricius on castor (Ricinus communis L.)

Abstract

Biology of Tobacco caterpillar (Spodoptera litura Fabricius) on Castor was carried out during 2018-19 at Department of Entomology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. The total larval period of S. litura ranged from 12 to 22 days with a mean period of 15.6 ± 2.10 days. Pupation took place inside the soil (5 to 6 cm deep) provided in cylindrical glass jar. Mean pupal duration was 7.35 ± 0.80 days having a length and breadth of 14.20 ± 0.68 mm and 14.20 ± 0.68 mm, respectively. Total life cycle of S. litura varied from 21 to 37 days with an average period of 34.85 ± 3.44 days with a male-female ratio of 1:1.4 and adult emergence percentage was 86.66 per cent.