Effect of Different Host Plants on the Biology of Polyphagus Insect <I>Ascotis imparata</I> Walk (Lepidoptera : Geometridae)

Abstract

Biological effects of six preferrential host plants including Shorea robusta, Ricinus cummunis, Murraya koenigii, Mallotus philippinensis, Syzygium cummunis and Dalbergia sissoo was studied on a polyphagous pest, Ascotis imparata Walk. Maximum fecundity (658.58± 12.5 egg / female) was observed when moth's larvae reared on sal (S. robusta) leaves. It was followed with 626.25± 15.43 eggs on castor (Ricinus cummunis) and minimum fecundity (429.92 ± 7.53 eggs) was observed when larvae reared on D. sissoo. Shorea robusta was found to be most preferred host of A. imparata among six host plants tested as minimum development time in all stages was observed including incubation of eggs (3.80 ± 0.26 days), larval development period (17 ± 0.18 days) and pupal period (14.58 ± 0.28 days). Life cycle was completed in (40.46 ± 0.22 days) which is minimum in comparison to the duration taken when reared on other five host plants.