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Development, reproduction and nutritional ecology of Euproctis latifascia (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) on artificial diet and a natural host plant, Camellia sinensis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2006

Bina Pradhan
Affiliation:
Entomology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal, PO North Bengal University, Darjeeling, 734 013, West Bengal, India
Mayukh Sarker
Affiliation:
Entomology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal, PO North Bengal University, Darjeeling, 734 013, West Bengal, India
Ananda Mukhopadhyay*
Affiliation:
Entomology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of North Bengal, PO North Bengal University, Darjeeling, 734 013, West Bengal, India
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Abstract

Euproctis latifascia Walker is an important pest attacking old leaves of tea bushes and mother leaves of nursery cuttings in Darjeeling foothills, Terai and Northeast India. Laboratory experiments were designed to assess the effect of an artificial diet and a natural diet, i.e. tea leaves, Camellia sinensis, on life history traits like development time, survival and fecundity of E. latifascia. In addition, the maintenance cost as well as the nutritional and production indices were estimated for each substrate (diet) using the gravimetric (dry mass) methods. On the natural (tea leaves) and artificial diets, the total development periods were 78.4 and 68.6 days, fecundity 248.8 and 230.3 eggs/female; in the final caterpillar stage (VI), the relative consumption rates were 0.8 and 0.6, relative growth rates 0.05 and 0.07, maintenance costs 5.1 and 2.9 and production index 0.1 and 0.2, respectively. The fifth instar larvae also showed similar differences in their nutritional indices. Based on these parameters it appears that the artificial diet is more suitable for laboratory rearing of E. latifascia than the natural tea-leaf diet.

Résumé

Euproctis latifascia Walker est un ravageur important des vieilles feuilles de théier et des feuilles de boutures dans les pépinières, au pied des collines de Darjeeling, Terai et du nord est de l'Inde. Des études de laboratoire ont été menées afin de tester l'influence d'un milieu artificiel et d'une alimentation naturelle (i.e. des feuilles de thé Camelia sinensis), sur les caractéristiques biologiques telles que la durée de développement, la survie et la fécondité de E. latifascia. De plus, le coût de maintenance ainsi que les indices de nutrition et de production ont été estimés pour chaque substrat (régime) à l'aide des méthodes gravimétriques (poids sec). La durée totale du développement est de 78,4 et 68,6 jours, la fécondité de 248,8 et 230,3 œufs/femelle, chez la larve de dernier stade (VI) le taux de consommation relative est de 0,8 et 0,6, le taux de croissance relatif est de 0,05 et 0,07, le coût de maintenance de 5,1 et 2,9 et l'indice de production de 0,1 et 0,2, respectivement sur régime naturel et artificiel. Le cinquième stade larvaire montre des différences similaires dans les indices de nutrition. Sur la base de ces paramètres, il apparaît que le milieu artificiel est mieux adapté à l'élevage de E. latifascia au laboratoire que le régime à base de feuilles de thé.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2006

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