Volume : 3, Issue : 6, June - 2014

Biology of Actia monticola Mall (Diptera: Tachinidae), an internal larval parasitoid of Tarache notabilis (Walker) (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

Nilam Shendage, Dr. T. V. Sathe

Abstract :

Actia monticola Mall (Diptera: Tachinidae) is an internal larval parasitoid of cotton semilooper Tarache notabilis (Walker) (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera). The parasitoid completed its life cycle within 14 days at laboratory conditions (25±1oC, 65–70% R.H., 14 hr photoperiod). Incubation period was 2–3 days, larval period was 6 days and pupal period was 6 days. Adults survived for 15 days and 17 days in males and females respectively. A. monticola is good biocontrol agent of T. notabilis. The present work will be helpful for mass rearing of A. monticola and further its utility in biological control programmes.