EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON DEVELOPMENT RATES, FECUNDITY AND LONGEVITY OF THE GROUNDNUT LEAF MINER, APROAEREMA-MODICELLA (LEPIDOPTERA, GELECHIIDAE), IN INDIA

Threshold temperatures, growth rates and physiological development tim es were calculated for the egg, larval and pupal stages of the groundn ut leaf-miner, Aproaerema modicella (Deventer), a key pest of groundnu t (Arachis hypogaea) and soyabean (Glycine max) in India. The life cyc le of Aproaerema modicella required 660 degree-days (DD) above thresho ld temperatures (12.4-degrees-C for eggs, 11.3-degrees for larvae and 14.7-degrees for pupae). A function fitted to the adult longevity and fecundity data describes the effect of temperature and female age on f ecundity. Egg production was greatest at 30-degrees-C and declined at lower and higher temperatures. Head capsule width measurements indicat ed that five larval instars are typical in India. The results obtained are discussed in the context of earlier work.