Development of Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) on semi-synthetic diets and duitability of diet reared host to larval parasitoid Cotesia plutellae (Kurdyumov)

Semi synthetic artificial diets were evaluated for the development of diamond back moth Plutella xylostella. Among the artificial diets, soya based diet was more suitable for the development of the pest. The % larval survival (63.6%), % pupation (63.4%) and adult emergence (72.2%) was higher than others. Significant variations were observed with respect to all the biological attributes among the diets. The promising diet was tested for its suitability to the development of the parasitoid Cotesia plutellae. Second instar larvae reared on soya based diet sustained the development of the endolarval parasitoid C.plutellae. A mean developmental period of 10.30 days (egg + larva) and 78.6 % parasitisation was recorded on the artificial diet reared larvae.