PRAHLAD SWARNKAR, D.K. JAIN AND R.K. PATEL

A study on the biology of gall forming black caterpillar (B. stylophora) was carried out in the field as well in the laboratory at S.K. Nagar Gujarat during the year 2012. The eggs were shiny, translucent, creamy white in colour and spherical shaped with an average diameter of 0.72 ± 0.05 mm. The mean incubation period was 6.00 ± 0.82 days; while, the hatching percentage was 83.00 ± 12.51. The mean length and breadth of newly emerged and full grown larvae were 1.50 ± 0.07 mm and 0.53 ± 0.05 mm and 10.70 ± 0.26 mm and 2.37 ± 0.09 mm, respectively. The mean development period of newly emerged larvae and full grown larva were 2.50 ± 0.53 days and 7.20 ± 0.78 days respectively. Total larval  development period was 23.60 ±  1.08 days. Pupation took place on the leaflets and it was red in colour. The average length and breadth of pupa was 6.52 ± 0.32 mm and 2.34 ± 0.30 mm, respectively. Pupal period lasted for 9.10 ± 0.80 days. The adult moths were brownish in  colour; forewings and hind wings were pale brown to yellowish brown with a series of dots on margins. The male and female  measured 19.07 ± 1.00 mm and 20.54 ± 2.00 mm in length and 34.87 ± 2.00 mm and 36.34 ± 2.40 mm in breadth with  expanded wings, respectively. The average longevity of male and female was 6.00 ± 0.82 days and 5.30 ±1.50 days,  respectively.