First record, biology and seasonal abundance of Phycode minor Moore (Lepidoptera: Brachodidae) on Ficus palmata Forssk in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Phycodes minor Moore is a sporadic pest of Ficus palmeta Forssk in the Saharanpur district of Western Uttar Pradesh. The fecundity of the females was recorded to be 68.92 ±21.04 eggs per female, while the incubation period averaged 4.75±0.12 days. The study identified five larval instars, with a mean duration of 32.25 ± 1.35 days. The recorded durations for the pre-pupal period, pupal period, and adult period were 3.71 ± 0.98 days, 9.3 ± 1.68 days, and between 3.7 and 10.23 days, respectively. Additionally, the pre-oviposition, oviposition, and post-oviposition periods were observed to last for 5.12 ± 1.19 days, 2.45 ± 0.71 days, and 1.45 ± 0.68 days, respectively. The total life cycle from egg to adult, including the longevity of the adults, was completed in 46.3 ± 0.59 days. The lifespans of adult males and females were recorded to be 5.8 ± 1.03 days and 9.7 ± 1.82 days, respectively. P. minor first appeared in the month of March and remained active until October. The larval population was observed to be higher in May, July, August, and September, but it declined in October. The population of P. minor was recorded to be nil in the months of January, February, November, and December. The larvae of P. minor caused leaf damage ranging from 2.51±0.76% to 6.31±0.81% per plant from March to October in 2023, while in 2024, the damage observed was between 2.92±0.72% and 6.89±0.76% per plant. Generally, a single larva was found in each rolled leaf tunnel, and 1 to 2 tunnels were observed on an infested leaf. A review of the available literature indicates that although P. minor has been previously reported on Ficus religiosa (peepal) and Ficus palmata (wild fig) from various parts of  India, yet this is the first documented record of its occurrence on Ficus palmata in Saharanpur.