author(s)
Prashant K Natikar, RA Balikai and DN Kambrekar

abstract
The present investigation on biology of shoot borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guenee on potato during both the seasons (kharif 2016 and rabi 2016-17) revealed that the average pre-oviposition period was 1.40 ± 0.52 and 1.42 ± 0.28 days, oviposition period 2.57 ± 0.18 and 2.77 ± 0.20 days, fecundity 157.30 ± 9.71 and 79.80 ± 29.51 eggs, incubation period 3.95 ± 0.54 and4.74 ± 0.39 days, total larval period 14.96 ± 0.52 and 17.03 ± 0.76 days and pre-pupal period 1.45 ± 0.09 and 1.63 ± 0.15 days, respectively. The freshly formed pupa was pinkish in colour which later turned dark brown, elongate oval in shape and had a pair of spiracles on each abdominal segment. The pupal period ranged from 7.08 to 8.08 days with an average of 7.47 ± 0.43 days during kharif 2016 and 9.16 to 10.87 days with an average of 9.96 ± 0.61 days during rabi 2016-17. The average longevity of male was 3.32 ± 0.22 and 4.03 ± 0.67 days while that of female was 4.58 ± 0.16 days and 5.41 ± 0.33 days, respectively during kharif and rabi seasons. The total life cycle of the shoot borer on potato (egg to adult emergence) occupied 29.72 to 32.92 days with a mean of 31.79 ± 1.16 days during kharif 2016 and 35.05 to 39.67 days with an average of 37.52 ± 1.44 days during rabi 2016-17.