Host preference and its effect on phadka grasshopper Hieroglyphus nigrorepletus bolivar

Host preference of Hieroglyphus nigrorepletus Bolivar was determined through multiple choice test and single choice test using eight host plants. The result revealed that grain sorghum (CSH-9) was the most preferred followed by fodder sorghum (SPV-699) and grass. Sugarcane and maize were moderately preferred and leguminous host plants viz., pigeon pea was the least preferred. However, no preference was noticed during multiple choice test to soybean and green gram. During single choice test Food Consumption Index (CI), Approximate Digestibility (AD), Efficiency of Conversion of Digested food (ECD) to body tissue, Efficiency of Conversion of Ingested food (ECI) to body tissue and weight gain by grasshoppers were worked out. Owing to these parameters, grain sorghum proved to be the most preferred. Morphometric values were also worked out to see the effect of host plants on growth and development. Grain sorghum fed H. nigrorepletus had higher morphometric values followed by fodder sorghum (SPV699).