Biology of Raoiella indica Hirst. (Acari: Tenupalpidae) on Arecanut Leaves under Laboratory Conditions

Biology of Raoiella indica Hirst was studied under laboratory at 27 ± 2°C temperature and 79 ± 5.75 percent RH. The finding showed that life cycle of R. indica consisted of five stages viz., eggs, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and adult. The eggs incubation period of R. indica was 9.790 ± 1.94 days. The larval body measured 0.09 and 0.13 mm in length and 0.08 to 0.10 mm in width and lived for 8.35 ± 0.84 days. The total developmental period of female was 29.80 ± 2.73 days and male took 31.27±40 days. Mated female lived for longer time and laid higher number of eggs than unmated female.