Journal of Entomological Research
Year : 1990, Volume : 14, Issue : 2
First page : ( 164) Last page : ( 172)
Print ISSN : 0378-9519.

Technique for mass rearing of the brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guen.

Patil P.D.*

Division of Entomology, Indian Agicultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110 002 (India).

*Present Address: Department of Entomology, Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli-415 712. Maharashtra (India).

Accepted:  10  November,  1990.

Abstract

A suitable technique for the rearing of brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis Guen.on natural food under laboratory conditions was initially developed. Adults, confined in a glass jar, were fed with five per cent honey solution. By covering the open end of the glass rearing jar first by muslin and then by markin cloth provided the maximum number of eggs. The honey solution treated with 0.01 g sorbic acid and 0.02 g methyl parahydroxybenzoate per 10 ml honey solution was effective in checking the fungal growth on cotton swab. Maximum hatching of eggs was observed at 29°C and 60 per cent relative humidity. Eight-day dried long and oblong brinjal fruits supported more than 75 per cent larval survival from its first instar up to adult emergence. A semi-synthetic diet was developed for the larvae of L. orbonalis. The basal semi-synthetic diet consisting of kabuli gram flour, yeast, ascorbic acid, sorbic acid, methyl parahydroxy benzoate, formaldehyde, agar and water was modified by using black gram flour instead of kabuli gram flour, fortified with Wesson's salt mixture, vitamins of B group and offered in rectangular cut pieces for the rearing of L. orbonalis larvae.

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