STUDY OF SEASONAL LIFE TABLES FOR EXORISTA BOMBYCIS(LOUIS) (DIPTERA : TACHINIDAE), A PARASITOID OF THE MULBERRY SILKWORM, BOMBYX MORI
N. CHAKRABORTY *
CENTRAL SERICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE BERHAMPORE - 742101, INDIA.
SURESH RAI *
CENTRAL SERICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE BERHAMPORE - 742101, INDIA.
S. S. BHATTACHARYA *
CENTRAL SERICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE BERHAMPORE - 742101, INDIA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Seasonal life tables of uzifly, Exorista bombycis (Louis) (Diptera: Tachinidae) were constructed for spring, summer, rainy and winterseasons under prevailing rearing house conditions revealed that the maximum mortality was in egg stage. The mortality per centrenged from 22.02 to 47.63, 15.54 to 22.89. 2.58 to 784, 14.04 to 25.06 and 12.96 to 23.49 in egg, larval (paprasitic stage). maggot, pupal and adult stages, respectively. The abiotic factors, temperature and relative humidity (both minimum and maximum) were found to be the key mortality factors at all stages of Uzi fly life table. The infertility on egg, the failure of emergence of maggots from superparasitised host, diseased host, putrification of host pupa and hardcocoon were also the causing factors of mortality. The adults with deformed wings and legs and also heavily Sclerotised body were found to be unable to reproduce, which caused reduction ofuzitly population.