Abstract
Laboratory studies were conducted on the development of immature stages, life history and behavior of the Red Pierrot butterfly, Talicada nyseus (Guerin) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) reared on Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken. Fabaceous and succulent plants in Brazil, China, India, Africa, and all tropical countries can be infested by larvae of T. nyseus. The pest had four larval instars and completed its life cycle in 36.95 ± 3.31 days. The mean incubation period of the egg was 3.75 days. The prepupal, pupal, and larval stages' respective mean development times were 1.51 ± 0.50, 8.56 ± 10.65, and 14.23 ± 1.82, days. The length of the larva in its first and last instars was 1.95 ± 0.13 and 15.85 ± 0.93, respectively. In larval stages, there was no apparent relationship between length and width. The sex ratio was 1.39:1 in favor of females. One day following eclosion, adults were prepared for mating. The ovaries of the adult female held 75.1 eggs. Male and female butterflies who were not fed lived only three to five days instead of eleven to fourteen days like those who had access to water. The findings of this study will be helpful in developing Integrated Pest Management tactics to combat this pest.