Survival and Development of Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricious) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) Larvae on Formulated Diet: An Attempt for Mass Rearing

Abstract

Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricious) is an effective bio-control agent and requires mass rearing them to use in Augmentation Release. Rearing on natural prey demands the maintenance of plants and aphid cultures; hence, it is necessary to examine the possibility of mass rearing on artificial diets. The objective of this study was to examine the possible replacement of natural diet: aphids by cooked chicken liver. M. sexmaculatus larvae were provided with three different diets: Dllive aphids, D2 Chicken Liver, D3 Chicken Liver mixed with adult aphids. These three diets were provided to larvae as nine treatments. The survival rates and development durations of larvae were recorded. Each treatment was replicated 15 times. The Data were analyzed using One way ANOVA followed by LSD mean separation using Minitab statistical software. The survival percentage of the larvae varied significantly among the treatments (P<0.05). The highest survival percentage (94 %) was recorded when the larvae were fed only on aphids. The lowest survival percentage (10%) was recorded when the larvae reared only on chicken liver diet. The survival percentage was significantly varied with treatments of L3 and L4 larval stages fed with chicken liver. Replacement of aphid by chicken liver for L3 and L4 was with a compromise of survival percentage of larvae. The total larval duration was significantly varied with different diet regimes (P<0.05). The fastest growth rate was recorded when all larval instars were fed exclusively on aphids. The longest duration was taken when LI fed on Aphids and other three instars fed on the chicken liver. Chicken liver can be used for L3 and L4 larval that can be used in mass rearing with a compromise of survival rate.