BIOLOGY, INTRINSIC RATE OF INCREASE AND CONTROL OF INDIAN LILY MOTH POLYTELA GLORIOSAE (FAB.) (LEPIDOPTERA : NOCTUIDAE)

Abstract

Indian lily moth Polytela gloriosae (Fab.) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) is a defoliator of pink lily Zephyranthus grandiflora,yellow lily Zephyranthus citrina and Foot ball lily Scadoxus multiflorus in Kolhapur, India. Under laboratory conditions (27± 1^oC, 75-80% R.H. & 12 hr photoperiod) S. multiflorus completed its life cycle from egg to adult within 17 days. Its incidence was high in the months July, August and September and completed 3 generations in the gardens on S. multiflorus. The adult longevity of females averaged 6.8 days, oviposition days 3 days and progeny production 84.30 individuals with average sex ratio (male : female) 1:1.11. The first adult mortality was noted on 5^th day. The maximum mean progeny production per day 'm_x' was 18.8 on the 3^rd day. The intrinsic rate of increase was found to be 0.194 per female per day and population multiplied 44.20 times in mean generation time 'T' of 19.52 days. The pest can be controlled by spraying the crop with 0.03% malathion or 0.03% Azadirachtin. A fungus Metarrhizium sp. and a tachinid fly were found suppressing the pest population in the field.