Investigations on Biology and Life Cycle of Pear Psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola Foerster

Pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola Foerster) is a significant pest of pear trees (Pyrus communis), causing extensive damage to pear orchards through feeding and the secretion of honeydew. A laboratory study was conducted at SKUAST - Kashmir to examine the biology and life cycle of Pear psylla, Cacopsylla pyricola Foerster under controlled conditions (32±2°C, 12:12 photoperiod, and 65±5 % RH). The results revealed that the incubation period lasted for 0.36 days. The insect undergone five nymphal instars, with a total nymphal period of 0.72 days. Adult psyllids exhibited a pre-oviposition period of 0.31 days, followed by an oviposition period of 1.34 days, with fecundity ranging from 400 to 650 eggs/female. Male psyllids lived slightly longer (62.55 days) than females (61.35 days). The study contributes valuable data for better understanding the biology of pear psylla, facilitating more effective pest management strategies in pear-growing regions.