Impact of Diaphania pulverulentalis (Glyphodes pulverulentalis) on mulberry leaf under laboratory conditions

Abstract

A significant lepidopteron pest, Diaphania pulverulentalis (also known as Glyphodes pulverulentalis), causes considerable damage to mulberry gardens in India, resulting in considerable leaf loss (up to 78%) and lower cocoon output. On young apical leaves, it functions as a leaf roller/webber, resulting in stunted plant development and lower nutritional content. The leaf webber Diaphania pulverulentalis is recognized as a key pest that infests mulberry orchards, causes damage to mulberry growth and development, and lowers the nutritional content of the leaves. Because silkworm Bombyx mori L. primarily consumes mulberry, the leaf webber-infested leaves that the silkworm feeds on have a larger effect on the output of, cocoon both quantitatively and qualitatively. Therefore, the current study was conducted to determine the effects of leaf webber infestation on several well-known mulberry types as well as on silkworm development and cocoon production. Because mulberry is the only food for the silkworm Bombyx mori L., it is known to be targeted by numerous insect pests, with the defoliating species being more prevalent. The Diaphania pulverulentalis, often referred to as the leaf webber caterpillar or Jute hairy caterpillar, is a polyphagous pest that poses a threat to the output of mulberry. Additionally, it's a significant and harmful pest of several crops. The newly hatched larvae were taken out of the stock culture in order to learn about the insect's longevity, fecundity, and lifespan. Under regulated conditions (26±1°C, 12±1 hrs, and 80±5% RH), five pairs of adult leaf webber caterpillar moths were let into the cage to pair and lay eggs. The Department of Sericulture Govt. Model Degree College in Barakhal, Sant Kabir Nagar, conducted the investigation and found that the incubation period for Diaphania pulverulentalis eggs was between four and six days, with an average of 5.0±1.00 days. The percentage of hatched eggs ranged from 88.25 to 94.25 percent, with an average of 91.9%±3.19. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth instars lasted 3.31 to 4.82 days, with an average of 3.85±0.84 days; 2.21 to 2.39 days, with an average of 2.27±0.20 days; 2.29 to 5.43 days, with an average of 4.30±0. 10 days, 3.41 to 3.61 days, with an average of 3.50±0.10 days; and 5.40 to 5.60 days, with an average of 5.50±0.10 days, respectively. The longevity of female leaf webber moths was discovered to be between 4.21 and 4.48 days, with an average of 4.31±0.1 days, while the pupal period lasted 10.61 to 12.62 days, with an average of 11.5±1.03 days. In contrast, the average lifespan of male moths was found to be between 3.33 and 3.52 days, with an average of 3.42±0.1 days. The average fecundity of adult females was 620 to 900, with an average of 740±14.22.