BIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF OXYRHA CHIS LEFROVI DISTANT (HOMOPTERA: MEMBRACIDAE) ON TWO DIFFERENT HOSTS DALBERGIA SISSOO AND CASSIA FÍSTULA WHEN ATTENDED BY AN ANT SPECIES PHEIDOLE ÍNDICA MAYR

Biological observations revealed variations in longevity of nymphal instars of membracid Oxyrhachis lefroyi on two different hosts when attended by ant species Pheidole indica Mayr. On Dalbergia sissoo total nymphal duration recorded an average of 35.83±0.30 days! cycle with an average of 34-39 days and on Cassia fistula an average of 37.33±0.42 days/ cycle ranging from 34-41 days was recorded, thereby depicting the host preference by the membracid.