Responses of Cydia pomonella (L.) reared on different artificial diets under laboratory condition

Abstract

Codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is considered as one of the major insect pest for apple growers in Balochistan province, Pakistan. To mass rear codling moth in the laboratory for different research purposes, three artificial diets with different compositions were evaluated for codling moth larvae. Two diets containing wheat germ in their composition as major protein source and one diet without wheat germ were used. Addition of wheat germ in the diet composition for larvae resulted in significantly high percent survival (maximum value) (60± 4.56 and 56± 2.56) and significantly increased larval body weight of codling moth (0.58± 0.04 and 0.42± 0.03 gm). While diet without wheat germ resulted in low percent survival (40 + 5.46) and reduced larval body weight (0.15 + 0.03 gm). Based on the results, it is presumed that codling moth can be successfully reared on diet containing wheat germ as major constituent.