Feature in sexing and loss in weight of the pupae of Lymantria marginata (Wlk.) (Lep. Lymantriidae).
Jasvir Singh, Goel S. C.
Author Affiliation: PG-Dep. Zool., Sanatan Dharm College, Muzaffarnagar-251?001, India.
Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 32 : 355-361
Abstract : The morphology of the pupa of Lymantria marginata, a defoliator of mango in India, is described. Information is also given on how to sex pupae using such features as colour, size, weight, antennal elevations, genital openings and pad, intersegmental lines and weight loss with time. The latter was investigated in greater detail using larvae which had been reared in the laboratory on mango leaves at 26.75-31.75°C and 41.13% RH during April 1984. Pupae, which were kept under the same conditions, were weighed daily during their development (about 7.61 days) and their weight loss recorded over time. The initial weight of female pupae was 0.465 g, that of male pupae was 0.232 g. Male pupae lost 19.29% of their body weight during development as opposed to 9.34% for female pupae. As a result, adult males were lighter and smaller than females at 0.126 g and 0.334 g, respectively.