AZADIRACHTIN : ITS EFFECTS ON EGGS AND POSTEMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT IN SPODOPTERA MAURITIA BOISD. (LEPIDOPTERA : NOCTUIDAE)
V. JAGANNADH *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT, CALICUT - 673635, INDIA
V. S. K. NAIR *
DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF CALICUT, CALICUT - 673635, INDIA
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Eggs of Spodoptera mauritia of known ages (day 0, day 1 and day 2) were topically treated with 5µg, 10 µg or 20 µg azadirachtin and the effects of these treatments on hatchability and postembryonic development were studied. Treatments had no effect on egg hatchability, but the larvae showed high rate of mortality during postembryonic development. The significance of these findings is discussed.