Comparative biology of Spilosoma obliqua

Bihar hairy caterpillar Spilosoma obliqua (Walker) is a polyphagous pest causing huge losses in many crops. Its comparative biology on rice bean, black gram, cowpea and cashew was evaluated in this study. This revealed that the egg period varies from 5 to 6 days, and % hatching was maximum with black gram and rice bean (92%). The least of the larval period was observed on black gram (18.32 days), as well the pupal period (7.66 days). The adult emergence was again maximum when fed on black gram (91.66%) and the least on cashew (58.33%), and similar was the case with adult longevity. The maximum sex ratio was observed with cowpea (1: 2). The total life cycle on black gram, cowpea, rice bean and cashew occupied 35.65, 36.49, 38.12 and 47.07 days, respectively.