Effects of photoperiods on demography and population growth of Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas reared on Solena amplexicaulis plant

Aulacophora foveicollis Lucas, commonly known as red pumpkin beetle, is an important pest of many cucurbitaceous plants in India. To develop the mass rearing facilities, this research was conducted on the effects of photoperiods on larval and adult development of A. foveicollis on roots and leaves of Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi, commonly known as creeping cucumber, respectively, at five different photoperiods, 8 L:16D, 10 L:14D, 12 L:12D, 14 L:10D and 16 L:8D at 30 ± 1 °C and 75 ± 5% RH under laboratory conditions. The shortest total development time (egg to adult emergence) of A. foveicollis was 41.10 days at 14 L:10D. The longevity of females was the highest at 14 L:10D (61.00 days) and the shortest at 8 L:16D (39.87 days). The fecundity was the highest at 14 L:10D (188.08) and the lowest at 8 L:16D (101.40). The net reproduction rate (R0) ranged from 5.32 to 24.45 offspring, which was higher at 12 L:12D and 14 L:10D. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) varied from 0.0251 to 0.0520 day−1, and it was higher at 12 L:12D and 14 L:10D. The finite rate of increase (λ) was also higher at 12 L:12D and 14 L:10D. Mean generation time (T) was the fastest at 14 L:10D (61.52 days) and the longest at 8 L:16D (69.33 days). Population projection revealed that total A. foveicollis population growth was the fastest at 14 L:10D. These results suggested that 14 L:10D was the most suitable for development and reproduction of A. foveicollis than other photoperiod regimes tested in this study, and this information will be helpful for running successful bioassays in integrated pest management programme.