Bioenergetics of Mythimna separata Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under wheat crop, Triticum aestivum environment

The bioenergetics of Mythimna separata as regards to consumption of food and on behalf of which tissue growth of different instars took place as well as rate of assimilation and respiration were studied. The experimental data corresponding to the live body weight indicated that the average per day consumption of an individual caterpillar of Mythimna separata successively increased from I^st to VI^th instar. The male caterpillar consumed more food than female. During I^st, III^rd and VI^th instar stages higher metabolic activities in male were observed but in II^nd, IV^th and V^th instar, it was just opposite. Average values for tissue growth and respiration showed that with increase in tissue growth from I^st instar to last instar of caterpillar the average rate of respiration also increased. The metabolic rate of the larvae depend on consumption of food which provide the tissue growth of insect pest.