Evaluation of three semi-artificial diets for cotton leafworm mass rearing and their effects on some biological parameters

Abstract EN

Three semi-artificial diets were evaluated compared to castor oil leaves in cotton leafworm (CLW), Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.), rearing for maximizing the production of insect population under laboratory conditions.

Effects of the developed diets were studied on some biological aspects of S.

littoralis.

Results indicated that, reared larvae on broad bean produced the highest weights followed by castor oil leaves and kidney bean diet.

The larval duration was comparable for the castor oil leaves, broad bean and kidney bean diets.

On the other hand, the wheat bean diet recorded the longest larval duration (43.5 days).

Pupae reared on the broad bean gained the highest pupal mean weight (391.6 mg / pupa).

Pupation percentage was the highest in insects reared on broad bean and castor oil leaves diets (96.5 and 95.0%, respectively).

Adult emergence of the insects reared on broad bean and castor oil leaves diets was the highest, where it was 97.2 and 96.5%, respectively.

Insects reared on broad bean diet recorded the highest fecundity and fertility, followed by insects reared on castor oil leaves.

The obtained data indicated that, the broad bean diet is better than the other two diets of wheat and kidney bean for S.

littoralis mass rearing.