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Leucinodes
undergoes four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. |
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Eggs are laid on leaves and tender shoots
of eggplants. |
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Shortly after hatching, the neonate larvae
migrate to the nearest shoot or fruit and bore inside. In fruit,
the larvae typically enter just below the calyx. |
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A Leucinodes larva feeding inside a
fruit or shoot completes its larval stage in 15 to 20 days, during
which time it passes through four larval instars. This slide
shows an eggplant fruit broken open to reveal a larva. |
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Fully grown Leucinodes larvae bore
back to the surface and emerge from the fruit or shoot leaving
obvious exit holes. Larvae migrate to the soil surface to pupate
in plant debris. |
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Leucinodes
pupal cocoons are covered with a layer of thick material. The
pupal period lasts 7 to 10 days. |
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Young Leucinodes adults are generally
found on the lower leaf surface following emergence from the
pupal cocoons.
Leucinodes
is a typical Lepidopteran moth belonging to family Pyralidae.
The adults are weak fliers, active at night. Leucinodes females
are slightly bigger than males. The abdomen of the male moth
tends to be pointed, whereas the abdomen of the female moth is
blunt. |
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