Biological studies of Liriomyza sativae (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on castor bean

The biology of Liriomyza sativae Blanchard on castor bean, Ricinus communis L., was studied. Host preferences of L. sativae and L. trifolii (Burgess) for castor bean and celery, Apium graveolens L., were determined. Total developmental times for the immature stages of L. sativae reared on castor bean varied from 13.1 d at 30 degrees C to 28.5 d at 20 degrees C; pupal development lasted slightly longer than the combined egg and larval stages. L. sativae females produced a mean of 164.5 larval progeny at 25 degrees C on castor bean during an average lifespan of 13.4 d. Fecundity peaked at age five days. L. sativae females strongly preferred castor bean over celery for oviposition; no progeny were produced on celery. In contrast, L. trifolii produced about four times as many progeny on celery as on castor bean