Developmental Biology, Survival and Morphometric Progression of Papilio demoleus Under Laboratory Conditions

Developmental information is useful for interpreting the life history of citrus-feeding swallowtails and for identifying the stages at which mortality and growth are concentrated. The developmental biology of Papilio demoleus was studied under laboratory conditions using a field-derived culture maintained at 27 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 5% relative humidity and a 14 h light:10 h dark photoperiod. Fresh Citrus limon foliage was supplied to larvae and a 10% honey solution was provided to adults. Of 360 eggs followed individually, 276 hatched, giving 76.67% hatchability, and 163 individuals completed development to successful adult emergence, equivalent to 45.28% overall egg-to-adult survival. Mean egg incubation was 2.84 ± 0.036 days (SE). Five larval instars were recorded. Mean instar durations were 2.78, 2.76, 2.83, 3.50 and 4.59 days, respectively, and total larval development averaged 16.57 ± 0.110 days (SE; n = 191). Survival remained above 90% through each larval transition, with the highest stage-specific survival during the prepupal transition (97.91%). Larval size increased progressively: mean body length increased from 3.61 ± 0.019 mm in the first instar to 43.40 ± 0.139 mm in the fifth instar, while body width increased from 1.55 ± 0.008 to 6.90 ± 0.022 mm. The prepupal period averaged 1.02 ± 0.009 days and successful pupae required 7.98 ± 0.084 days before adult emergence. Total immature development from egg to successful adult emergence averaged 28.34 ± 0.169 days (SE; n = 163). Pupal emergence was 87.17%. Mean wingspan was 89.90 mm in males and 90.90 mm in females. Female longevity (6.99 ± 0.093 days) exceeded male longevity (4.29 ± 0.103 days). Reproductively active females produced 106.40 ± 1.993 eggs on average. These findings provide an integrated laboratory reference for developmental duration, stage-specific survival and morphometric progression in a central Indian population of P. demoleus, while demonstrating how cumulative losses across successive stages reduce overall egg-to-adult survival.

Papilio demoleus; developmental biology; larval instars; morphometrics; survival; fecundity; life cycle; Lepidoptera

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