Development of artificial diet for mass rearing of American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera

An artificial diet was developed during 2003 for mass rearing of American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) under laboratory conditions (temperature 27′1°C, relative humidity 65′5% and 16:8 hr scoto-photophase regime). The diet ingredients consisted of kabuli gram or chickpea flour (Cicer arietinum L.) (94.0 g), wheat germ, (Triticum sp) (13.0 g), distilled water (825 ml), agar-agar (15.0 g), dried yeast powder (24.5 g), casein (15.0 g), ascorbic acid (6.0 g), methyl-p-hydroxybenzoate (2.0 g), sorbic acid (1.2 g), streptomycin sulphate (0.2 g), cholesterol (0.6 g), formaldehyde 40% (1.0 ml), ABDEC drops (multivitamin solution, 1.5 ml), multi-vitamin capsules (2) and α-tacopherol (Evion 400 mg, 1 capsule). This diet supported the growth and development of H. armigera successfully for 10 generations with most suitable impact on its reproductive potential. The mean growth and development indices were higher (6.0 and 3.46) as compared to 3.16 and 2.16 on pea (Pisum sativum L.) pod respectively. On natural food, pea pod, survival percentage of the test insect was 70, whereas it was as high as 85.4% on artificial diet. All the components of the diet are easily available and economical too, as the cost of 1 litre diet was approximately Rs 90 on which 250 larvae can be reared.