Mass Rearing of Spodoptera litura on Artificial Diet

Artificial diets of Spodoptera litura was formulated by using 18 boiled form of common stored grain commodities. Developmental behaviour of this insect indicated that larval survival was adversely affected on many diets when the commodities were boiled prior to preparation of diet. Complete larval mortality was recorded on groundnut, red gram, rice and winged bean based diets.. However, boiling of commodities like green gram, pea, sorghum or soybean prior to preparation of diet helped in quicker larval development as compared to their flour or soaked forms. Various developmental parameters indicated that bengal gram or pea based diets were superior as compared to other diets. However, fractions of abnormal adults were recorded on these diets. Overall developmental profile indicated that french bean based diet supported 86.7% normal adult formation with prolonged developmental period. Bengal gram and pea based diets were able to support 76.7 and 70% normal adult formation, respectively, with shorter developmental period while other diets were unable to support proper growth and development of this insect.