DOI: 10.36347/sajb.2021.v09i06.001

Pages: 149-153

Ficus benjamina is an ornamental plant that planted alongside the road of Pakistan to increase the beauty of country. Several insect pests are attacking on this beautiful plant, responsible in reduction of aesthetic value of country. Among insect pests, Trilocha varians is serious and destructive pest whose larvae feed on leaves resulting 100% defoliation. The study was conducted to check the life table of this emerging pest on F. benjamina under controlled conditions. The study showed that total life period of T. varians from egg to adult was 33-35 days. The highest apparent mortality was recorded in early larval instars and rapidly reduced in later instars (3rd instars) which even reached to zero from 4th larval instars to pupal stage. Age-specific survivorship (lx) of the cohort was gradually reduce in later instars. Maximum mortality at early stage may exert significant negative effect on the insect population. The management practices could be more fruitful against early instars as compared to later instars larvae.