Study of Biology of Pink Bollworm (Pectinophora Gossypiella) Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae on Alternate Host (Okra)

Abstract

Cotton is cash crop and attacked by many pests especially bollworms. The pink bollworm is one of the major pests of cotton, and its larva damages the boll by eating internal contents. Biology of the pink bollworm was studied by rearing on alternate host okra in the controlled conditions (28 ± 1°C temperature and 55-60% relative humidity). Both adults of male and female moth were released into a rearing cage and given a protein mixture for feeding. Female moth laid eggs from which larvae emerged. Freshly emerged larvae were reared on fresh okra pieces up to pupation. Larvae became pink in third and fourth instar, and it took 35-40 days to complete the life cycle.