International Journal of Agricultural Science and Research (IJASR) ISSN 2250-0057 Vol. 3, Issue 4, Oct 2013, 179-184 © TJPRC Pvt. Ltd. POTATO A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE HOST FOR BRINJAL FRUIT SHOOT AND FRUIT BORER LEUCINODES ORBONALIS GUENEE (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE) K. BOOPAL 1 , VIJETH V ARYA 2 , P. V. RAMI REDDY 3 & VAGEESHBABU S HANUR 4 1,2,4 Division of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India 3 Division of Entomology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, Karnataka, India ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to investigate the biology of differential mating behavior of Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee on potato and tomato along with comparison of its natural host brinjal at laboratory conditions. Observation in biology and time period of its life cycle has been varied from one crop to other. Biology of this pest is greatly influenced by many crucial environmental factors like temperature, relative humidity and light. Mating duration, mating behavior and intervals during mating before feeding and after feeding were observed. Egg laying pattern, number of eggs and neonate larva emergence was recorded at specific time intervals. Creamy white colored eggs were laid and hatching period observed was 3-4 days. The larval duration entering to later stages and completion of life cycle varied from crop to crop suggesting a detailed study regarding biology of this pest has to be undertaken in absence of its natural host. This study showed Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee at laboratory conditions can complete its life cycle in comparative crop like potato other than its natural host. KEYWORDS: Leucinodes orbonalis, Tomato, Potato, Neonate, Instars INTRODUCTION Brinjal being second highest vegetable consumption in India, with a global production of 33 million (Srinivasan R. 2009) and approximately 30% is produced by India. This short duration crop is cultivated round the year ensuring stable income to farming community. More than 12 insect pests have been indicated the damage caused to brinjal (Alam and Sana,1962), Brinjal Fruit and Shoot borer Leucinodes Orbonalis Guenee (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) a monophagous pest alone causes significant losses upto 55-65% or up to 100% without control measures (Rahman,2007) to yield as well as marketable quality. In India it is believed the losses occurred were recorded upto 95% (Naresh, J.S., et.al 1986). This pest is believed to be cosmopolitan attacking other solanaceous crops like potato and tomato (B.S. Lall and S.Q. Ahmad 1965). In case of other lepidopteron insects life table studies has been frequently performed on different host plants (Liu et al 2004). A detailed study is required to know the behavior and biology of this pest since it lacks systemic study in brinjal cultivated areas. (M. M. Rahman et.al 2011) and none of brinjal wild species have true resistance to brinjal fruit and shoot borer (Hanur, V. S., 2008). Lack of artificial diet to this particular pest, an attempt was made to know the behavior and biology of this monophagus pest in comparison to other solanaceae species such as potato and tomato. A B Figure 1: Mating of Male and Female Adults Collected from Potato (A) and Tomato (B)