Impact of host plants on the biology of hadda beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata fab. in laboratory condition

Sivasankari S; Kathirvelu C; Kannan R

Impact of host plants on the biology of hadda beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata fab. in laboratory condition

Authors
Sivasankari S, Kathirvelu C, Kannan R

Abstract
Hadda beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata (Fab.) (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) is one of the main leaf feeders of eggplant leading to heavy economic yield loss. Due to the vast host range, it occurred throughout the year. The biology of hadda beetle, Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata on three host plants viz., Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.), Cape gooseberry (Physalis minima L.), Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.) were carried out under laboratory condition in the Department of Entomology, Annamalai University, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. The total life span of each stage such as egg, four stages of larvae, pre-pupae, pupae and adult (both male and female) longevity was recorded. The results revealed that among the life stages of H. vigintioctopunctata, the egg period was maximum in the host plant P. minima (5.37 days) and minimum (4.00 days) in M. charantia. Remaining stages like grub (19.87 days), pre-pupal (2.25 days), pupal (4.25 days) and adult (29.50 and 32.50 days for male and female respectively) were recorded maximum in M. charantia and minimum in P. minima with grub (15.12 days), pre-pupal (1.50 days), pupal (3.25 days) and adult longevity (24.87 and 27.37 days for male and female respectively). It was found that P. minima recorded with a minimum period of life span of beetle and it may be served as a suitable host for H. vigintioctopunctata, so it may be utilized as a trap crop in brinjal to minimize the incidence.

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