Journal of Environmental Biology

A comparative study of morphological characterization and developmental biology of Maruca vitrata (Fabricius, 1787) populations across India

R.M. Mahalle^1,2, P.S. Burange³, S. Premkumari⁴, S. Chakravarty⁵, K.G. Padwal⁶ and C.P. Srivastava¹*    

¹Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221 005, India

²Department of Applied Biology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea

³Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana-141 004, India

⁴Faculty of Agriculture, Mahayogi Gorakhnath University, Gorakhpur-273 007, India

⁵Department of Entomology, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour-813 210, India

⁶Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Mirzapur - 231 001, India

Received: 12 July 2025                   Revised: 31 October 2025                   Accepted: 06 November 2025

*Corresponding Author Email : csrivastava63@gmail.com                  *ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3181-7825

Abstract

Aim: The legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata (Fabricius, 1787), is an agriculturally important and major economic insect-pest of leguminous crops cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to analyse the morphological and biological variations in different M. vitrata populations collected from eight legume-growing locations in India.

Methodology: The morphometric characteristics and various developmental stages of M. vitrata populations collected from eight locations of India were studied. Under controlled laboratory conditions, the immature stages of eight populations were reared until maturity. Subsequently, the data on life cycle duration, morphometric observations of different larval instars, fecundity, and sex ratio were collected and growth indices were analyzed.

Results: Significant geographic variation was observed among the eight M. vitrata populations, with clear differences in developmental durations, and total life cycle. Morphometric comparisons revealed consistent regional differences in body dimensions, while larval chaetotaxy remained conserved.

Interpretation: This study provide a crucial understanding of its biology, as well as its morphologically important phenotypic traits. These comparative data on detailed bionomic and morphological aspects may aid in the formulation of effective and phenology-based integrated pest management strategies for this economically important lepidopteran insect pest of legume.

Key words: Developmental biology, Geographical variation, Legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata, Morphometric analysis, Pigeonpea

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