Biology of the Melon Worm, Diaphania hyalinata L. (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae), on Cucurbits in Gezira State, Sudan

Abstract

The melon worm, Diaphania hyalinata Lepidoptera: Pyralidae considered as an insect pest that infests cucurbits and causes serious damage to them. Despite the importance of this insect, it has not received adequate study. This study was conducted under laboratory conditions with 28±1.2 and 20-25% room temperature and relative humidity respectively, to determine melon biology of melon worm on six species of cucurbits namely; snake cucumber, squash, pumpkin, sweet melon, watermelon, and tibish. The study revealed that the average duration of the developmental stages i.e. egg, larva, and pupa were 2.5±0.25, 11.4±0.13, and 7±0.15 days, respectively. The fecundity and fertility were 90.4±7.60 eggs and %73.6±3.63, respectively. The life cycle (from egg-laying to adult emergence) was completed in 20-23 days with a mean of 21.37±0.22 days when the larvae were fed on leaves of snake cucumber. The sex ratio was 1:0.8 male to female. The type of food had significant effects on larval, pupal period, and life cycle. A clear impact on the duration of the life cycle was found when larvae were fed on leaves of snake cucumber, squash, pumpkin, sweet melon, watermelon, and tibish compared when fed on fruits of the same cucurbits above. It was found that snake cucumber and sweet melon were the most preferred by females for egg laying compared to the other cucurbits in laboratory studies.

Keywords

• Melon worm
• Life cycle
• Cucurbits
• Host preference
• Diaphania hyalinata

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