Life cycle, morphometrics and damage assessment of the Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on stored groundnut

Abstract

The life cycle of the Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) on stored groundnut was studied under fluctuating laboratory conditions of 25±5°C and 70±5% relative humidity. There were five larval instars and the total development time from egg to adult ranged from 37 to 40 days with an average of 37.95 days. The duration of each developmental stage was egg: 6.05 days; first instar: 3.8 days; second instar: 4.7 days; third instar: 5.6 days; fourth instar: 6.2 days; fifth instar: 6.8 days and pupa: 4.8 days. Females had an average fecundity of 80.2 eggs. Mean adult longevity was 12.4 days. .

Keywords

• development time
• fecundity
• life cycle
• Trogoderma granarium