I am working with tuta abusoluta, testing eficcacy of several pesticides. My challange is on finding the artificial diet for the insects. What type of artificial diet which can be used to rear Tuta absoluta?
You can prepare Tomato sause plain without adding any other ingredients with some preservative and prepare 3 % melted agar and mix well.Pour it in multi cavity trays with aeration in lid.Try introducing egg or first instar.
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You need to establish a healthy tomato plants inside plant cages. The insect is best reared on live tomato plants. Make to sure to change the healthy plants regularly and establish new colonies in new cages.
I think you do not need to rear this insect on the artificial diet. This insect pest can be reared well on healthy tomato plants (2-3 weeks old) using 50 x 50 x 50 cages with replacing the plants every week or 10 days.