Biology of Mallada boninensis (Okamoto) on artificial diets.

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE SUMMARY The present investigation was carried out at Entomology Section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, during the year 2004-2005, with a view to standardize mass rearing techniques of Mallada boninensis. Attempts were made to evaluate the ten artificial diets along with standard laboratory host (factitious host) i.e. eggs of Corcyra cephalonica. The least larval duration (8.90 days), highest larval weight (8.50 mg) at the end of last instar, maximum pupation (94 %) with least pupation duration (7.98 days), highest pupal weight (6.73 mg) were recorded on Corcyra eggs. Also lowest pre-mating period of 3.53 days and 1.09 hours of mating period was recorded on Corcyra eggs. The highest male longevity of 46.30 days, highest fecundity of 295 eggs/female, minimum incubation period of 3.10 days with highest per cent viable eggs of 94% of M. boninensis was recorded on Corcyra eggs. See end of the article for authors’ affiliations