Consumption, digestion and utilization of bio-pesticides toxicated sunflower leaves by Helicoverpa armigera

Bio-pesticides viz., Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk), nucleopolyhedrovirus and azadirachtin affected the food intake, faeces voided and weight gained by the larvae. The consumption index (CI) and growth rate (GR) were lower in Btk treatment. Efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) and approximate digestibility (AD) were also higher in Btk treatment compared to other treatments and effects of intoxication on growth and development were discussed.