BIOLOGY OF ROSE APHID Macrosiphum rosae L. (HOMOPTERA: APHIDIDAE) IN KASHMIR

Biological studies carried out on rose aphid, Macrosiphum rosae, under laboratory conditions revealed that the pest passed through 4 nymphal instars during 2 seasons i.e. spring and autumn. The mean developmental period of apterous form during spring and autumn was 11.6 and 13.4 days and mean developmental period of alate forms was 16.2 and 19.3 days, respectively. The mean reproductive period of apterous form during spring and autumn was 10.5 and 16.4 and mean reproductive period of alate forms in spring and autumn 7.6 and 11.7 days, respectively. The highest fecundity (80.8 nymph female(-1)) was observed with apterous form during spring season followed again by apterous form (55.5 nymph female(-1)) during autumn season. However, total fecundity in alate form during spring and autumn season was 44.62 and 21.75 nymphs laid female(-1), respectively. The longevity observed in apterous form was 27.2 and 39.4 days during spring and autumn season and in alate form 31.0 and 42.0 days, respectively.