Study the Biology of Common Castor Butterfly, Ariadne merione merione (Cramer) (Nymphalidae: Lepidoptera)

Abstract

A laboratory experiment was conducted at the PC Unit Sesame & Niger, Department of Entomology, JNKVV, Jabalpur on biology of spiny castor caterpillar, Ariadne merione merione (Cramer) on castor. Considerable variation in larval period on castor plants was observed, with the shortest of 27.41(max.) and 25.80 (min.) days being when reared on castor leaves. Generally, females length longer than males on all the castor plants. The average developmental period of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th larvae were 70.92±4.89, 109.22±1.81, 134.37±1.87, 147.87±4.12 and 176.82±5.67 hours, respectively. The pupa length and width ranged from 18.79±0.74 mm and 5.62±0.11 mm, respectively. The periods of pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition in hours sequencely, 59.62±6.17, 121.42±2.42 and 61.69±3.20, respectively.