Bionomics of the oleander hawkmoth, Daphnis nerii

Key Words：Daphnis nerii, bionomics, damage, control

Abstract：        The oleander hawkmoth, Daphnis nerii (Linnaeus) is a serious pest of the garden plant, Nerium indicum Mill. D. nerii has two or three generations per year in the Hengyang area, Hunan Province, over-wintering as pupae under the layer of the dead branches and fallen leaves, in loose topsoil and in cracks and holes in the earth near the host plant. The adults of the over-wintering generation emerge in the first ten days of June and oviposit between the middle and last ten days of June. The first generation larvae hatch in the last ten days of June and the first generation adults emerge in Mid-July and oviposit in the last ten days of July. The second generation larvae hatch in the first ten days of August. Plant damage is most severe from the last ten days of August to the first ten days of September. Larvae begin to pupate in mid-September, pupation continuing until mid-October. The second generation pupae differentiate into two groups, one of which becomes over-wintering pupae, and the other becomes second generation adults which lay the third generation eggs. The third generation larvae hatch in the first ten days of October and over-winter as pupae from mid-November.