DETAILED STUDIES ON THE BIOLOGY OF DERMESTES ATER DEGEER (DERMESTIDAE: COLEOPTERA) UNDER DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY; AND ON FOUR DIFFERENT DIETS OF ANIMAL ORIGINS

Detailed biology of dermestid beetle,Dermestes ater was studied under differentexperimental conditions and on four different diets of animal origin.

There were 7 larval instars in all the experimental conditions. The incubation period varied, at room temperature 22.4 – 29.8o C (25.61 + 0.1) and humidity 47.5 – 86% (66 + 0.3) it was 5 – 8 (6.31 + 0.27) days, at constant temperature of 30o C and 65% RH it was 5 – 7 (5.69 + 0.24) days and at 35o C and 65% RH 4 – 5 (4.30 + 0.15) days.

Total life-cycle period under laboratory conditions, at room temperature 22.4 – 29.8o C (25.61 + 0.1) and relative humidity of 47.5 – 86% (66 + 0.3), at different temperature and relative humidity (30o C and 65% RH, 35o C and 65% RH) are as follows:

Total larval period was 43 – 56 (49.5 + 1.16), 38 – 45 (40.57 + 0.81) and 30 – 42

(35.8 + 2.13) days, pupal period was 8 – 11(9.5 + 0.36), 7 – 9 (7.71 + 0.36) and 5 – 7 (6.0+ 0.45) days and life-cycle period was 62 – 72 (65.42 + 0.96), 50 – 57 (54.29 + 0.84) and 42 – 53 (46.40 + 2.06) days respectively.

On dried silkworm pupae, dried silk moths, feathers of white leghorn and an equal mixture of fur of goat and sheep, total larval period was 39-53 (47.78 + 1.64), 41-56 (50.86 + 2.13), 34-61 (58.20 + 1.24) and 58-69 (63.50 + 2.26) days, pupal period was 8-11 (8.78 + 0.37), 8-11 (9.57 + 0.43), 9-11 (11.0 + 0.63) and 9-13(11.0 + 0.82) days, and life-cycle period was 55-71 (63.33 + 1.76) days 50 – 57 (54.29 + 0.84) days, 60-72 (67.29 + 1.66) days and (81.75 + 2.39) 76-87days respectively.