BIOLOGICAL ATTRIBUTES OF APHID, Macrosiphoniella sanbornii (Gillette) ON THREE DIFFERENT ORNAMENTAL HOST PLANTS

An experiment was conducted under the laboratory conditions to study the biology of aphid,Macrosiphoniella sanbornii (Gillette) (Homoptera: Aphididae) on chrysanthemum from December,2025 to January, 2026. The biology of aphid on three hosts indicated that the total life span ranged from13.52±2.55 days on chrysanthemum, 13.08±2.19 days on marigold and 12.68±2.11 days on zinnia. Thenymphal development consisted of four instars on all the three hosts. The total nymphal period higheston chrysanthemum (4-9 days with an average of 6.40±1.25 days), followed by marigold (4-8 days withan average of 6.04±1.24 days) and lowest on zinnia (4-8 days with an average of 5.60±1.35 days). Thepre reproductive period was 1.36±0.48, 1.28±0.45, 1.24±0.43 on chrysanthemum, marigold and zinnia,respectively. Reproductive period was 4.80±1.80 on chrysanthemum, 4.68±1.62 on marigold and4.28±1.33 on zinnia. The average of post-reproductive period ranged from 1 to 2 days, with 1.32±0.47,1.28±0.45 and 1.20±0.40 days for aphids reared on chrysanthemum, marigold and zinnia, respectively.The longevity was (3-14 days; 6.88±2.31 days) on chrysanthemum, (3-10 days; 6.60±1.97 days) onmarigold and (3-9 days; 6.28±1.86 days) on zinnia. Fecundity ranged from 8-32 nymphs, 8-26 nymphs,4-22 nymphs on chrysanthemum, marigold and zinnia, respectively. Overall, chrysanthemum served asthe most preferred host for M. sanbornii when compared to marigold and zinnia, as reflected by itsrelatively higher reproductive potential and favourable biological parameters.