Biological attributes of mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), under laboratory conditions

Abstract

The present investigation on the biological attributes and morphometric characteristics of mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) was conducted under laboratory conditions at N. M. College of Agriculture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari during the rabi season of 2024. The study was carried out at average temperature of 25.62 ± 1.05°C in the morning and 27.51 ± 1.24°C in the afternoon with relative humidity ranging between 40–65%. The laboratory study revealed that the nymphal instars moulted four times to attain adult stage on mustard crop. The average length of first, second, third and fourth instar nymphs were 0.73±0.03, 0.86±0.02, 1.42±0.17 and 1.59±0.04 mm, whereas 0.38±0.02, 0.45±0.02, 0.71±0.05 and 0.82±0.05 mm in case of breadth, respectively. The apterate adult was dark, deep olive green in colour with a spindle-shaped to elongated pyriform body. The average length and breadth of apterate adults were 1.84±0.08 and 1.14±0.03 mm, respectively. The alate adult was comparatively smaller in size than apterate adult, and measured 1.79±0.08 mm in length and 1.05±0.02 mm in breadth. The average duration of first, second, third and fourth instar nymphs was 1.26±0.44, 1.60±0.49, 1.66±0.47 and 2.43±0.67 days, respectively. Whereas, the average total nymphal period ranged from 6 to 9 days with an average of 6.96±0.99 days. The average pre-reproductive, reproductive and post-reproductive period was 0.86±0.55, 5.83±1.66 and 0.85±0.49 days, respectively. The longevity of female adults ranged from 3 to 10 days with an average of 7.55±1.63 days and the total life cycle varied from 9.0 to 18.5 days with an average of 14.52±1.85 days. The average number of nymphs produced by a female was 25.00±9.52 nymphs during its life cycle.