Biology and Morphometric Studies of Aquatic Bug, Sphaerodema Molestrum (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) from Jammu (J&K, India)
J.S. Tara and Ramnik Kour
The life cycle of Sphaerodema molestrum was studied by rearing from egg to adult in laboratory conditions at a temperature of 26.9±1.08 oC and pH of 8.0 with description of immature stages. Individuals were reared on mosquito larvae. The incubation period averaged 9.7 days. Durations of five subsequent instars averaged 8.2, 8.9, 11.1, 15.6 and 9.1days respectively. Total life cycle averaged 62.6 days.