Biological and Morphometric Studies of Sugarcane Whitefly, Aleurolobus barodensis (Maskell) (Aleyrodidae: Homoptera)

Whitefly, Aleurolobus barodensis Mask. is an important pest of sugarcane attaining serious proportions in the recent years in parts of North Karnataka. Studies on biology of sugarcane whitefly, A. barodensis (Maskell) revealed that, its life cycle is composed of egg, three nymphal instar, pre pupa and adult. The mean number of eggs per row was observed to be ranging from 7 to 22. It is noted that, the egg incubation period varied from 8 to 9.5 days with an average of 8.68 ± 0.52 days and the hatching per cent was 95 under laboratory conditions. The first, second, third nymphal instar and pre pupal period ranged from 4 to 5.5, 3 to 5, 3 to 5.5 and 10 to 12 days, respectively. The total nymphal period ranged from 20 to 26 days with an average of 24.10 ± 1.95 days. Longevity of adult female was longer which ranged from 4 to 6 (4.81 ± 0.39) days as compared to male 3 to 4 (3.47 ± 0.42) days. The pre-oviposition, oviposition and post oviposition period ranged from 1 to 1.33, 1 to 2 and 2 to 2.5 days, respectively. The egg laying capacity of the female varied from 27 to 63 eggs with an average of 52.25 ± 8.20 eggs. The total life cycle of sugarcane whitefly, A. barodensis from egg to death of male adult ranged from 32 to 39.5 days with a mean of 36.24 ± 2.20 days. Whereas, total life cycle from egg to death of female adult ranged from 33 to 41 days with a mean of 37.59 ± 2.28 days.