Larval sexing of some lepidopterans and its impact on the in vivo multiplication of nuclear polyhedrosis virus of Spodoptera litura (F.)

Based on the presence or absence of external sex characters in females or males sexing was carried out in Spodoptera litura (F.), Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), Corcyra cephalonica (St.) and Plutella xylostella (L.), during their larval stage. Accuracy of larval sexing has been more than 90% in all species. Applications of larval sexing for practical mass multiplication of NPV of S. litura using preferably the female larvae has been discussed.