author(s)
Raut G.A., Bhawane G.P., Gaikwad S. M

abstract
The life cycle of Hierodula ventralis was studied in the present investigation. Being a hemimetabolous insect, H. ventralis shows ootheca (egg), nymph and adult stages in the life cycle. The incubation period of egg was about 25 days while nymphal period was about 53 days with seven moults. The average adult life span of male and female was 50 and 71 days respectively. The entire life cycle period of female was more than male by 15 to 20 days. The cannibalism was noticed in overcrowding conditions during rearing and mating in which females devoured the males. The species under study is an important predator of crop pests. This knowledge would be utilized in biological control strategies against pests.