The biology of cashew shoot and blossom webber was studied under laboratory conditions on cashew. Cashew shoot and blossom webber laid the eggs either singly or in small groups on either surfaces of the leaves but usually more on the ventral surface of leaves and tender shoots. The oviposition took place during the night within one to two days after mating. The number of eggs laid by female moths varied from 20 to 82. The longevity of non-mated adults increased to 6.2 and 4.9 days in case of female and male, respectively when diluted honey was provided as food. The freshsly laid eggs were measured 0.83 mm in length and 0.60 mm in width and yellowish - green in colour. Average incubation period was 5.01days with a range of 4 to 6 days. Only five larval instars were recorded in their total larval stage. The first, second, third, fourth and fifth instar larvae lasted for 2.4, 3.93, 4.33, 4.87 and 5.87 days, respectively. The prepupal period lasted for 1 to 2 days, while the pupal period lasted for 9 to 13 days and the total life cycle of cashew shoot and blossom webber lasted for an average of 38.60 days.
Cashew, shoot and blossom webber, Lamida moncusalis, biology
