Comparative rearing of Cheilomenes sexmaculata on natural and artificial diets under laboratory condition
Coleopteran beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata Fab. is a polyphagous predator, which has lot of potential to be developed into a biological control agent for aphids. This study aimed to mass produce C. sexmaculata under laboratory conditions in an economic way. Six different types of artificial diets were prepared with different composition (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 and D6). Preference study was conducted in multiway cage for identifying the diet preference of grubs and adults. Diets D3 and D6 were highly preferred both by the adults and grubs. Grubs were reared in multi cavity tray and adults were reared in pairs in Petri plates, which were covered with kada cloth. Crushed paper was provided for facilitating the egg laying of adults. Mortality rate of adults and grubs fed on natural and artificial diet were recorded. Fecundity rate of adults was found to be high in natural diet (248) compared to artificial diet. Longevity of C. sexmaculata was high in artificial diet D6.