Moisture content, hardness or consistency, and age of diet were some of the properties studied for their effect on survival, growth and development of Sesamia inferens Walker. Survival of larvae was maximum on diet with 66.1% moisture. Increase or decrease in moisture resulted in excessive stickiness or dryness to the diet. Reduction in moisture content in the artificial diet was dependent on particle size of bulk constituent. Proper consistency or hardness resulting from 1.8 and 2.2% agar permitted higher number of larvae to reach pupal stage. Diet stored for 24 hr and 48 hr provided favourable conditions for the early instar larvae to establish on the diet.