STUDIES ON THE OVIPOSITION BEHAVIOUR IN NEZARA VIR1DULA L. (HEMIPTERA : PENTATOMIDAE)

Abstract

The mean preoviposition age of females after emergence as adult and after first mating was 25.70 and 6.40 days, respectively. Oviposition began after 12 O' clock and attained a highest peak during 1600 to 1800 hr and completely stopped in the dead of night. The nubmer of females ended oviposition during 1400-1600 hr was much lower than those began oviposition. The gradual end of oviposition occurred towards deeper night having a few during 2000-2200 hr with a complete stop in the dead of night. The duration of oviposition (weighted average) per batch of egg was 3.17 hrs. The average intervals between successive batches of egg deposition was calculated as 9.28 days. The oviposition period varied from 1.03 to 5.60 hrs depending on the number of egg batches deposited. The duration of oviposition was linearly related to the number of egg batches deposited. Number of oviposited and hatched eggs was gradually increased in females who mated more than once and showed such tendency upto 4 times of mating.