Abstract
Complete rearing of the looper pest, Biston (=Buzura) suppressaria (Guen.) (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) through generations has been attempted for the first time on artificial diet as an alternative to tea-leaf diet. A comparative study on performance of the pest on its natural host, tea (Camellia sinensis, O’Kuntz), and on the newly formulated artificial diet revealed adequacy and superiority of the latter diet. The development period of B. suppressaria was shorter (48 days) on artificial diet, with a better survival rate than that on tea. On artificial diet the species showed a greater effective rearing rate with production of heavier pupae and adults. Nutritional indices determined for advanced looper stage tilted in favour of artificial diet as compared to that on tea with significantly higher relative growth rate, efficiency of conversion of ingested food, efficiency of conversion of digested food, approximate digestibility, production index and significantly lower maintenance cost.
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Authors are thankful to the National Tea Research Foundation, Tea Board, Kolkata, for funding the project and Department of Zoology for providing the necessary laboratory facilities. Authors are also thankful to the whole team of researchers of Entomology Research Unit, Department of Zoology, UNB, for their constant support and help. The valuable and constructive suggestions made by editor and unknown reviewers are sincerely acknowledged with thanks.
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Prasad, A.K., Mukhopadhyay, A. First Attempt of Complete Rearing of Tea Looper, Biston (=Buzura) suppressaria, on Artificial and Natural Diet. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 86, 897–903 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-015-0532-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-015-0532-y