International Research Journal of Education and Technology

Investigations on “biology of leaf eating caterpillar, Spodoptera litura (Fab.) infesting soybean” was carried out at PG laboratory, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, JAU, Junagadh during kharif 2021. For the experiment, different stages of S. litura viz., eggs, larvae, pupa, adult and were studied. The data on the biology of S. litura revealed that the number of eggs laid by a female was 216.8 + 23.81. As far as the hatching per cent and the incubation period is concerned, 89.20 + 3.43 per cent and 2.63 + 0.48 days were recorded. Period of larval instars i.e., first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth were 2.43 + 0.49, 2.40 + 0.48, 3.23 + 0.61, 2.80 + 0.58, 3.30 + 0.45 and 1.93 + 0.24 days, respectively with a total larval period of 13.23 + 1.68 days. Pre- pupal and pupal periods were 1.20 + 0.40 and 7.03 + 0.65 days, respectively. Pre-oviposition, oviposition and post oviposition periods were 2.80 + 0.74, 3.40 + 0.48 and 3.20 + 0.74 days, respectively. Male and female longevity were 6.60 + 0.48 and 8.00 + 0.63 days, respectively. Total male and female life span were 31.40 + 2.03 and 33.4 + 2.15 days, respectively having 1:1.22 (Male:Female) of sex ratio.

Key words: Biology, S. litura, soybean and instars