BIOLOGY OF DIAPAUSING POPULATION OF PINK BOLLWORM PECTINOPHORA GOSSYPIELLA (SAUNDERS).

This study on the comparative biology Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) was carried out at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur, Karnataka, in insect rearing growth chamber (25± 1°C, 65± 5% RH and photoperiod of 14:10 hr, L: D) during 2018-19. The results revealed that the incubation period was 3.5± 0.82 and 3.05± 0.55 days in non-diapausing and diapausing populations, respectively; a total larval period of 18.60± 2.28 and 19.65± 1.53 days, respectively was observed without any significant difference; and adult longevity of male and female was 9.05± 0.55 and 9.55± 0.83 days, respectively in non-diapausing population, while in diapausimg population it was 9.75± 0.26 and 10.25± 0.43 days. Total life cycle of non- diapausing population was significantly shorter (42.85± 4.99 days) as compared to diapausing one (134.3± 12.91days) with fecundity of 112.34± 10.31 and 104.54± 9.96 eggs, respectively. The longer lifecycle of diapausing population was due to long resting diapausing period ranging from 72 to 108 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]