Biology Of Hadda Beetle Epilachna Vigintioctopunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) On Momordica Charantia from Gaganbavda Region of Kolhapur, India

The subfamily Epilachinae having different species of Coccinellidae and Epilachna is one of them. There are about 500 phytophagus species of Epilachna found in Shri Lanka, Siberia, East Indies, South East Asia, America, Malaya, China and India (Kapur 1950). It feeds on various types of plant families like Solanaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Convolvulaceae and Malvaceae. In Kolhapur region of Maharashtra cultivated crop like bitter gourds also affected (Shankar et al. 2010). Momordica charantia cultivated in tropical Africa and Asia. It is cultivated throughout the India. It has medicinal properties and high nutritional value (Perry, 1980). The E. vigintioctopunctata feeds upon the succulent plant parts like leaves of M. charantia and damages them. The mating period lasts for up to 2-4 minutes. The female lays about 20-40 eggs in a single batch and 7-8 batch in her lifespan. The laid eggs hatch in 4-5 days and tiny larvae emerges out. The 4th instar of 6-7 mm length stops feeding and goes to prepupal period for 2-3 days. After prepual period the pupal period begins which lasts for 4-5 days. Then yellow, spineless adult comes out. The adult having 28-30 black spots on dorsal side. They mature in 3-5 days and starts mating and lay the eggs for next generation.