S. K. SinghLAKSHMI PANDEY2023-12-112023-12-112023-08-24LAKSHMI PANDEY{2023}, “LIFE TABLE STUDIES OF MEXICAN BEETLE Zygogramma bicolorata PALLISTER (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) AND FEEDING POTENTIAL ON Parthenium hysterophorus L.’’,BANDA UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE & TECHNOLOGY BANDA-210001, UTTAR PRADESH (INDIA)https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810202515A laboratory experiment was carried out to investigate the life table and feeding potential of Mexican beetle, Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on its most preferable weed host Parthenium hysterophorus L.” in the PG laboratory of Department of Entomology of College of Agriculture, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology (BUAT), Banda during June to November of 2022. The results of the life cycle study indicated that the Z. bicolorata laid eggs either on leaf surface or on the lid of the containers. The eggs were small, oblonged, elongated, smooth and light yellow coloured and hatched within an average of 4.1±0.852 days. The average pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition period were 6.05 ± 1.145, 69.85 ± 3.265 and 30.8 ± 3.088 days, respectively. The neonate grub had passed through four instars and full grown within 14.4 ± 2.11 days, where the average duration of 1st , 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th instar grubs were 3.45 ± 0.510, 3.45 ± 0.998, 2.9 ± 0.788 and 5.2 ± 0.894 days, respectively. The average longevity of female and male were 88.3± 4.90 and 84.5 ± 4.89 days, respectively. The results of life tables studied revealed the total mortality during June to November was ranged between 40.6 to 61.1 per cent, where the minimum was recorded during June to July followed August – September (51.4 %) and maximum during October- November in egg and early larval instars. Besides, 1 st & 2nd grub instars had also infested with Beauveria bassiana and some unknown factors had also responsible for the mortality at pupal and adult stage. The overall mortality was too decreased with the advancement of the study season. Morphometric observations on different life stages of Z. bicolorata showed that the average length and breadth of eggs were 1.21 ± 0.04mm and 0.49 ± 0.04 mm, respectively. Length of 1 st , 2 nd , 3 rd and 4 th instars larvae were 1.38 ± 0.07, 2.80 ± 0.13, 4.93 ± 0.13 and 6.02 ± 0.13 mm, respectively. The corresponding values for their breadth were 0.69 ± 0.03, 0.94 ± 0.09, 2.93 ± 0.18 and 3.89 ± 0.25 mm, respectively, Whereas, the length and breadth of pupae, male & female beetles were 6.24 ± 0.15 x 4.13 ± 0.13 mm, 6.27 ± 0.13 x 3.29 ± 0.12mm and 6.42 ± 0.15 x 3.71 ± 0.10 mm, respectively. However, breadth the head capsule of 1 st, 2nd , 3 rd & 4th instars grub, adults (male) and adult (female) were measured an average of 0.45 ± 0.03, 0.73 ± 0.08, 1.93 ± 0.12 & 2.12 ± 0.06, 2.43 ± 0.24 and 2.72 ± 0.15 mm, respectively. Results on feeding potential revealed that the 1 st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th instars grub consumed about 2.77, 6.46, 12.05 and 10.82 mg Parthenium leaves per day, respectively and early instars were more consuming later stage. However, the adult males consumed quite less amount of leaves (10.34mg/ day) than the female (11.82mg/day) and it is varied due to variability in body size and life spam.EnglishThesis