The biology of Holhymenia rubiginosa Breddin is described on sweet-passion-fruit, Passiflora alata, and the developmental time, viability and thermal requirements of the egg stage, the developmental time and mortality of the nymphal stage, and adult longevity and reproductive parameters were assessed. Insects were reared at laboratory controlled conditions (25 ± 1°C, 65 ± 10% RH, photophase 12h) on branches of P. alata, 20% honey solution and pollen. The lower thermal threshold (10.8°C) and thermal requirements (140.8 DD) for egg development were determined using four temperatures (17, 21, 25 and 30°C). The average egg development time (days) and viability were 25.4 ± 0.45, 88%; 13.2 ± 0.28, 88%; 8.8 ± 0.16, 94%; and 7.7 ± 0.17, 92%, at 17, 21, 25 and 30 ± 1°C, respectively. When reared at 25 ± 1°C, the first instar had the shortest development time (4.0 ± 0.02 days) and the second the longest (15.7 ± 3.50 days), which also had the highest mortality (75%). Males and females had similar longevity (185.3 ± 17.52 days for females and 133.6 ± 18.94 days for males). Females mated 33.0 ± 7.71 times, with a mean duration of 99.0 ± 9.25 min, laying 11.5 ± 2.55 eggs/female. Periods of pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition were respectively 96.4 ± 18.08; 88.5 ± 23.48 and 19.3 ± 12.18 days.
Development; passion-fruit; thermal requirement; reproductive parameter
