1Department of Zoology Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
2Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
Department of Zoology, Government College Women University, Sialkot, Pakistan
*Corresponding author’s E-mail: sadia.maalik@gcwus.edu.pk
Online Published on 08 April, 2022.
For approximation of damage caused by pernicious larvae of Helicoverpa armigera, nutritional indices, host plant preference, amount of plant consumed, and developmental stages of the larvae were studied. For this purpose larvae were reared in laboratory at optimum conditions. Larvae were provided with fresh and pre-weighed leaves and shoots of Brassica, cauliflower, cabbage and turnip. After 24 h food was replaced with fresh food and consumed food was weighed. By repeating the same process until pupal formation per day food consumption and total food consumption was calculated. Other developmental parameters such as pupal weight, pupal duration and adult longevity was also observed. One way ANOVA was applied to check significance of results. Maximum consumption was on cauliflower (18.04 ± 0.68 g) while turnip was least preferred diet with 6.47 ± 0.19 g total consumption. Pupal weight was also highest on cauliflower 0.48 ± 0.04 g and lowest on turnip 0.39b ± 0.03 g. Significant relation (p < 0.001) was found between total consumption of host plants. Larval duration, pupal weight and pupal duration were related to each other.
Feeding habits, Helicoverpa armigera, Maximum consumption, Preferred diet, Pupal weight
