A MODIFIED ARTIFICIAL DIET FOR REARING POTATO TUBER MOTH, PHTHORIMAEA OPERCULELLA (ZELLER)

An artificial diet and rearing system was standardized and validated for potato tuber moth larvae [Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller)] under laboratory conditions. Potato tuber moth (PTM) completed its life cycle on artificial diet and produced a new generation. Bionomics of potato tuber moth, reared on this artificial diet, were compared to those reared on potato leaves. The percent survival of the larvae on exclusive artificial diet (treatment-1) was less (51.2%) than on potato leaves (89.6%). Survival could be increased significantly on artificial diet (89.2%) when the neonates were initially reared on potato leaves up to first instar and then released on artificial diet for completion of rest of the larval stages (treatment-2). The mean durations of different life cycle stages were longer on artificial diet (treatment-1 and treatment-2) as compared to control reared on potato leaves. Numbers of the hatchlings per adult pair per day were greater in control than in artificial diet. The diet and the rearing system described here (treatment-2) will be useful for calculating toxicological data of many insecticides.