BIOLOGY AND MORPHOMETRICS OF CASTOR SEMILOOPER, ACHOEA JANATA LINN. (LEPIDOPTERA : NOCTUIDAE)

Biology and morphometrics of the castor semilooper, Achoea janata have been studied in de in our laboratory reared insects The study included, gravimetric analysis, linear dimensions the body and head capsule and identification of sex in the larval, pupal and adult stages. weight of the larva increased upto the spinning period, and thereafter it decreased during prepupal and pupal stages. In the adult moth the weight increased linearly with age but showed a declining tendency with the onset of mating and oviposition. Body length and we increased in larva and pupa, but came down in the adult. Head capsule width ratio was which does not seem to follow Dyar's rule.