Impact of variation in foliar constituents of Mangifera indica Linn. on consumption and digestion efficiency of Latoia lepida Cramer.
Jeyabalan D., Murugan K.
Author Affiliation: Division of Entomology, Department of Zoology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore 641 046, India.
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology 34 : 472-474
Abstract : Variation in the composition of foliar constituents of mangoes (Mangifera indica) influences the feeding pattern and digestion ability of its pest, Latoia lepida [Parasa lepida]. Larvae fed with nutritionally balanced young leaves consumed more food and had a higher relative growth rate than those fed with mature and senescent leaves. Larvae fed senescent leaves had lower ECI and ECD values. Optimal level of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid contents coupled with a significant increase in activities of proteases, amylases and lipases were observed in midgut tissues of 5th-instar larvae fed on young leaves compared with those fed with older leaves.