The effect of three green gram cultivars (PDM 54, PUSA BAISAKHI and SAMRAT) on the biology of Spilosoma obliqua Walker (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) was studied using age-stage, two-sex life table. We also studied food utilization efficiency measures of larvae on green gram cultivars. The nutritional and antinutritional factors of leaves of green gram cultivars were determined. The preadult development time of S. obliqua was shortest on PDM 54 (35.54 days) and longest on SAMRAT (39.29 days). The fecundity was highest on PDM 54 (318.32) and lowest on SAMRAT (250.20). The net reproductive rate (R0) ranged from 37.53 on SAMRAT to 79.58 on PDM 54. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was higher on PDM 54 (0.1148 day−1) and PUSA BAISAKHI (0.1018 day−1) than SAMRAT (0.0875 day−1). The finite rate of increase (λ) was lowest on SAMRAT (1.0915 day−1). Mean generation time (T) was shortest on PDM 54 (38.12 days) and longest on SAMRAT (41.42 days). Population projection revealed that the population growth was slowest on SAMRAT. The growth rate of sixth instar larvae was highest on PDM 54 and lowest on SAMRAT. The lower level of nutritional factors such as total carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, amino acids and nitrogen content, and a higher level of antinutritional factors such as total phenols, flavonols and tannins influenced higher development time and lower fecundity of S. obliqua on SAMRAT than other cultivars. These findings suggested that SAMRAT is a less suitable cultivar to S. obliqua than other cultivars, and this cultivar can be promoted for cultivation.
Effects of four host‐plants, sunflower, castor, jute and sesame, on feeding, growth and reproduction of Diacrisia casignetum Kollar (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) were studied under laboratory conditions (27 ± 0.5°C, 12 h light : 12 h dark, 65 ± 5% RH). Total larval developmental time of D. casignetum was highest on sesame than the other three host‐plants used in this study, but pupal duration was higher on sesame than sunflower but not for other dietary treatments. The longevity of females was generally longer than males. Male and female longevity was higher in sunflower than sesame (P < 0.05), but it did not differ significantly among other treatments. Fecundity was highest in sunflower followed by castor, jute and sesame. The growth and development of D. casignetum were related to nutrient and phenol contents of these four host‐plants. Total carbohydrates and amino acids were present in rich quantities in sunflower when compared to other three host leaves, while nitrogen, protein and lipid contents were comparatively higher in sunflower and castor than jute and sesame. Phenol content was greatest in sesame, and least in castor and sunflower. Higher levels of total carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nitrogen and amino acids including water content and lower phenol content of sunflower have influenced higher growth rate and fecundity of D. casignetum.
Effects of feeding on young, mature, and senescent sunflower leaves were studied under laboratory conditions (27±0.5°C, 12L : 12D,65±5% RH) to evaluate the impact of variation of nutrients on larval food utilization efficiency, larval and pupal development and survival, longevity, and fecundity ofDiacrisia casignetumKollar. The growth rate, which is the ratio between the dry weight gain of insect and duration of experimental period, ofD. casignetumwas in the order of mature leaf > young leaf > senescent leaf of sunflower. This was correlated with nutrient constituents of three kinds of sunflower leaves, which was measured by various biochemical analyses described elsewhere in the text. Total carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nitrogen, amino acids, and water content are in greater amount in mature leaves when compared to young and senescent leaves, whereas phenol content was highest in young leaves than mature leaves. Hence, higher amount of total carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nitrogen, amino acids including water and lower amount of total phenol content in mature leaves have influenced higher growth rate, less developmental time, and higher fecundity ofD. casignetum.
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