Effects of two artificial diets on the development and reproduction of Tirathaba rufivena (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) |
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| Authors: | Bing-Chun Gan Jian-He Wei Ming-Hui Xu Ya-Kui Zhou |
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| Institution: | 1. Hainan Branch Institute of Medicinal Plant Development (HBIMPLAD) , Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences &2. Peking Union Medical College , Wangning, Hainan, 571533, P.R. China;3. Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Conservation and Development of Southern Medicine , Wanning, Hainan, 571533, P.R. China |
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| Abstract: | Growth, survival, fecundity, and nutrition of Tirathaba rufivena (Walker) fed on two artificial and one natural diet were studied at 29±1°C and 75±5% relative humidity. Larvae reared on the two artificial diets showed faster growth and development, higher pupal survival and weight, and higher adult fecundity than those reared on a natural diet of young coconuts, Cocos nucifera L. The relative growth rate, efficiency of ingested food conversion, and efficiency of digested food conversion in larvae fed on artificial diets were significantly higher than those of larvae fed on young coconuts. The relative consumption rate of larvae fed on artificial diets was significantly lower than that of larvae fed on young coconuts. T. rufivena showed no significant degradation in ability to propagate after being reared on the artificial diet for five successive generations. These results indicated that two artificial diets are suitable for mass rearing of T. rufivena. |
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| Keywords: | Tirathaba rufivena (Walker) insect rearing artificial diets growth and development fecundity utilization and conversion of food |
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