Comparative Analysis of Two Rearing Procedures for Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Rape seedlings, Brassica napus L., and a wheat germ-based artificial diet were compared as media for rearing diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.), for six generations. Mean pupal weight and total number of eggs laid per female were always greater when larvae were reared on artificial diet; however, percentage of eggs hatching was usually greater and development time usually shorter when larvae were reared on rape seedlings. High larval survivorship (>70%) could be obtained on either media. Larvae which were reared on artificial diet were consistently more susceptible to the insecticides methomyl and permethrin, indicating potential problems in using artificial diet for insecticide studies. When larvae were reared on either medium for six generations and then transferred to cabbage, larval survivorship was nearly equal, indicating that either method could be used for artificially incoculating plants for host plant resistance studies. Although it was easier and cheaper to rear DBM on artificial diet, recommendations for using one rearing method over the other must be based on the ultimate use of the colony.