Evaluation of oviposition substrates for laboratory rearing of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Cotton (Gossypium sp.) is the one of the major commercial fibre crops cultivated across the country. The yield is severely affected by insect pests and diseases. Pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders, 1844) is one of the major insect pests threatening the cultivation of cotton. The major constraint limiting cotton production is resistance, which prevails to date due to the indiscriminate use of the insecticides and noncompliance of the refugia. Hence the status of the pest needs to be ascertained periodically to initiate timely and dynamic management tactics. For conducting laboratory screening, a higher number of individuals is the prime requirement, which is facilitated through mass-rearing techniques. We have evaluated different oviposition substrates like paper and muslin cloth for enhancing the recovery of eggs. Our results are quite promising and the use of black muslin cloth has shown a recovery of eggs on par with natural substrate (cotton twig). Adoption of the artificial substrate has huge potential in rearing techniques and avoids drawbacks like tissue drying, carry-over of diseases and reusability.