Role of protein and lipids in artificial diets of teak defoliator moth: Hyblaea puera

Abstract

This work assessed the importance of proteins and lipids in artificial diets used for growing the teak defoliator Hyblaea puera Cramer. Development of a completely artificial diet for rearing H. puera became an urgent need as they are used for the production of a biocontrol agent, the Hyblaea puera nucleopolyhedrosis virus. Different forms and quantities of proteins and lipids were examined, and bioassays were carried out both with H. puera larvae and adults. Addition of proper type and quantity of protein in the artificial diet gave good larval, pupal and adult survival of H. puera, together with an adequate life span and good fecundity. This study showed that the type of protein is a major factor in the food acceptance and development of 1 st and 2 nd instar larvae of H. puera. Even if lipid is an essential factor in lepidopteran growth, the addition of lipid in the form of egg yolk and coconut oil caused early mortality.