1Division of of Lac Production, Indian Lac Research Institute, Namkum, Ranchi-834 010, Bihar (India).
2Division of Transfer of Technology, Indian Lac Research Institute, Namkum, Ranchi-834 010, Bihar (India).
Pseudohypatopa pulverea Meyr., a predator of lac insect, was reared on two proprietary artificial diets, viz, Cerelac and Threptin biscuit under laboratory conditions. The Cerelac diet (per 100 g) comprised fat, 9 g; linoleate, 1.5 g; protein, 15.5 g; carbohydrates, 67.4 g; dietary fibre, 2.4 g; ash, 3.2 g; moisture, 2.5 g; sodium, 180 mg; potassium, 680 mg; calcium, 460 mg; phosphorous, 370 mg; iron, 7.5 mg; vitamin A, 1167 IU; vitamin D, 200 IU; vitamin E, 3 IU; vitamin C, 35 mg; thiamine (L?,), 0.8 mg; riboflavin, 0.6 mg; nicotinic acid, 5.0 mg; vitamin B6, 0.3 mg; pantothenic acid, 1.5 mg; folk acid, 2.5 mg; vitamin B12, 0.75 mcg; and biotin, 2.5 mcg. The ingredients of Threptin biscuit included (per 100 g) protein (mainly casein), 30.0 g; carbohydrates, 48.0 g; vegetable fat, 14.0 g; thiamine hydrochloride, 5.0 mg; riboflavin, 5.0 mg; and nicotinamide, 25.0 mg. Larvae feeding on Cerelac diet had 5 larval instars, whereas those reared on Threptin biscuit powder the number of larval instars was 6 to 7, suggesting the role of nutritional factors in the development of these insects. Biological characteristics i.e., duration of each instar, and morphological parameters such as length of larvae, width of head capsule and dimension of adults reared in artificial diets were at par with those reared under natural condition. The adult moths which laid eggs only on lac encrusted twigs in nature were made to lay eggs on artificial substrates, viz, sand and emery paper.
