Comparative biology of mustard sawfly Athalia proxima (Klug) on mustard and radish

Laboratory studies on the comparative biology of mustard sawfly, Athalia proxima (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) on mustard and radish were conducted. The average incubation period was 4.64±0.76 days on mustard and 4.96±0.79 days on radish. An average of 89.00 per cent and 88.00 per cent hatching was observed on mustard and radish, respectively. The total larval period was 13.00±1.26 days and 12.40±1.38 days on mustard and radish, respectively. The average pupal period on mustard and radish was 10.16±0.98 days and 10.04±1.43 days, respectively. The fecundity of the female adults on mustard and radish was 80.00±12.76 eggs and 55.89±18.97 eggs, respectively. The pre-oviposition period lasted for an average of 4.17±0.72 hours and 3.00±1.13 hours on mustard and radish, respectively. The oviposition period lasted for an average of 9.25±1.22 days on mustard, whereas on radish, it lasted for 7.50±2.15 days. The average post-oviposition period was 2.08±0.67 days and 2.00±0.74 days on mustard and radish, respectively. The total life cycle of the male mustard sawfly was completed in 38.60±2.72 days on mustard while on radish, it was completed in 37.00±3.02 days. The female sawfly lived for 41.50±2.32 days on mustard, whereas on radish, it lived for 40.60±3.03 days.