RATE OF POPULATION EXPANSION OF ISCHNOCERAN LOUSE, Goniodes dissimilis DENNY, 1842 (ISOCHNOCERA: PHTHIRAPTERA: INSECTA)
AFTAB AHMAD *
Northern Regional Centre, ZSI, Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun Uttarakhand, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The average incubation period of the eggs recorded 5.55 + 0.19 days (range, 4-8 days, n=249), duration three nymphal instars 5.76 + 0.12 days (range, 4-7 days, n=211), 5.53 + 0.18 days (range, 4-7 days, n=185), 5.27 + 0.14 days (range, 4-7 days, n=128) respectively. The average adult life span of males, and females was recorded as 14.20 + 3.14 days (range, 2-26 days; n=60, and 17.20 + 3.24 days (range, 2-29 days; n=60). The data obtained through in vitro experimentation life table was constructed. The value of the intrinsic rate of natural increase was computed as r=0.029. With this value of “r” the summation of ∑e-rmxlxmx proved to be 1.029. Likewise, at this value of “r” the doubling time of G. dissimilis Denny, 1842 was found to be 23.90 days.
Keywords: Goniodes dissimilis, In vitro, ischnocera, insecta, louse, phthiraptera