EFFECT OF PHOTOPERIOD OF DEVELOPMENT AND REPRODUCTION OF HELIOTHIS-ARMIGERA (HUBNER) (LEPIDOPTERA , NOCTUIDAE)

The duration of light/24h induced wide variation in larval survival; continuous darkness proved fatal to the larvae. Shortest larval period was observed on 12L:12D photoperiod. Pupal period was not affected by the duration of light. There was a higher proportion of males than females under every light regime but percentage of emerging females increased with increasing duration of light. A significant variation in the number of eggs laid/female and percentage of hatching of eggs were also observed in different light regimes.