Laboratory Rearing of the Diamondback Moth Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) with Artificial Diet

The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.) (DBM) is a serious pest of crucifers worldwide. Both augmentative biological control and autocidal genetic control of DBM require an efficient mass-rearing system. We developed it wheat. germ based artificial diet with kale leaf powder (ADK) and one without the powder (AD) and compared development. of DBM on these diets, together with cabbage (Cab). its natural host. We used both laboratory and wild strains of DBM. ADK diet supported significantly higher percentage survival to pupation in laboratory and wild strains, than cabbage and AD, Survival rates within diets were relatively higher in laboratory strain than in wild strain. Larval period was significantly shorter with ADK than with cabbage in the laboratory strain but the reverse was observed in the wild strain. Pupal weights were similar between diets in wild strain, although females were significantly heavier than males. ADK diet able to support. growth and development of DBM optimally, with no microbial contamination, thus suitable for mass production of DBM in laboratory.