Objective To clarify the morphological characteristics, developmental duration, annual life cycle, larval feeding capacity, and reproductive performance of adult female Serrodes campana at various life stages.

Method From From 2022 to 2024, individuals were reared on fresh tender host leaves in a climate-controlled chamber. We recorded the morphology and developmental duration of each stage, measured larval leaf consumption and female fecundity, and observed the annual life cycle in a field net house in Jian’ou County, Fujian.

Result (1) The main morphological characteristics of each life stage of S. campana are as follows: eggs are hemispherical with a reticulated pattern on the surface; larvae undergo six instars, with a greyish-black body adorned with orange stripes; the prepupae are greyish-white.; pupae are reddish-brown, with a semi-circular tubercle-like protrusion on each side of the reproductive pore of the male pupa; adults have light brown hairs covering the body, two black spots at the base of the forewings, the center panel differs in color from the front chest back panel and a kidney-shaped spot on the wing margin. (2) Stage durations (days, mean ± SE): egg (2.96 ± 0.00) d, larva (14.27 ± 0.04) d, prepupa (2.48 ± 0.04) d, pupa (11.71 ± 0.06) d, adult (12.29 ± 0.37) d; generation time (44.76 ± 0.47) d. Both laboratory and field observations showed that S. campana completes four generations per year in Fujian, with the earliest appearance of adults occurring in late April. (3) The larvae prefer feeding on plants of the Melia genus, with a significant increase in feeding from the 3rd instar onward, and the total feeding amount of a single larva reaching 53,601.75 mm². (4) The pre-oviposition period for females is (1.35 ± 1.00) d, the oviposition period lasts (8.20 ± 1.91) d, and the peak oviposition period lasts (6.45 ± 1.43) days. Mean fecundity was 921.70 eggs per female.

Conclusion S. campana has six larval instars, high feeding capacity, and strong reproductive potential. With four annual generations in Fujian, the population peaks in the second generation (June–July). Thus, the optimal window for precise control is during the adult stage of the first generation (May–June).