Consumption, Digestion and Utilization of Biopesticides Treated Tomato Fruits by Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)

Effect of biopesticides, viz., Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. Kurstaki, nuclear polyhedrosis virus and neem formulation on consumption, digestion and utilisation of tomato fruits by the fruit borer, Helicoverpa annigera (Hubner) was studied. In general food intake, faecal matter voided and weight gained by the larvae were lower in biopesticide treated fruits than in untreated ones. The total food consumed (0.008g), weight of faeces voided (0.0015g), larval weight gain (0.0018) and feeding period (1.25 days) were the lowest in B.t. @ 0.5g/lit. whereas, it was 1.6582g, 0.9404g. 0.271g and 10.83 days in untreated check, respectively. The consumption index (CI) was lowest in B.t. @ 0.2g/lit (0.098). Growth rate (GR), approximate digestibility (AD), efficiency of conversion of ingested food to body substance (ECI) and Efficiency of Conversion of Digested food to body matter (ECD) were also worked out and discussed.