Biological and life table parameters of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) from five different geographical regions of India

Abstract

Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae) is one of the most widely distributed destructive pests of cruciferous crops which significantly decrease the quality and quantity of yield. In India, it is widely distributed wherever Cruciferous crops are grown. The damage is caused by the larvae which damage the leaves by mining and making holes. We studied the biological and growth rate parameters of this pest collected from five different geographical regions of India under laboratory conditions. Various biological parameters like total developmental period, oviposition period and adult longevity are found to be influenced by different geographical regions. Growth parameters like net reproductive rate, true generation time, true intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase, doubling time and weekly multiplication rate of the pest also differed significantly among population from different geographical regions. The net reproductive rate was maximum for Hyderabad and Bengaluru population and minimum for Solan and Keylong population and the same was true for the intrinsic rate of increase. The finite rate of increase which is designated as the number of time, the population increases per unit time was 1.39, 1.36, 1.32, 1.25 and 1.20 for Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ludhiana, Solan and Keylong population with multiplication rate of 2.98, 2.63, 2.14, 1.75 and 1.50 days, respectively and the difference was statistically significant. Further studies need to confirm the delineation of this pest in different geographical regions and accordingly the management strategies should be formulated for these regions.