Abstract
Complete rearing of the looper pest, Biston (=Buzura) suppressaria (Guen.) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) through generations has been attempted for the first time on artificial diet as an alternative to tea-leaf diet. A comparative study on performance of the pest on its natural host, tea (Camellia sinensis, O’Kuntz), and on the newly formulated artificial diet revealed adequacy and superiority of the latter diet. The development period of B. suppressaria was shorter (48 days) on artificial diet, with a better survival rate than that on tea. On artificial diet the species showed a greater effective rearing rate with production of heavier pupae and adults. Nutritional indices determined for advanced looper stage tilted in favour of artificial diet as compared to that on tea with significantly higher relative growth rate, efficiency of conversion of ingested food, efficiency of conversion of digested food, approximate digestibility, production index and significantly lower maintenance cost.
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Schedule a callMore From: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, India Section B: Biological Sciences
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