This is Entomopathogenic fungal isolates screening experiment under laboratory condition. We want to calculate feeding percentage of S. fruigiperda larval instar as we provide specific quantity of maize leaves to each instar. We count the data after 24 hrs/ 1day which goes up to 10 days. We provide 7, 12, 20, 30, 45 and 60 gram maize to 1st, 2nd , 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th instar respectively. The maize quantity is for group of 15 larvae and we will replace it after each day. We observed that S. fruigiperda slow down feeing efficacy against some fungal isolates as compared to control. We didn't use leaf disc method because it was not convenient for us. it will be really appreciated if someone can help us to find the formula by which we can do statistical analysis.
Hi Atif Idrees since you are trying to measure the foliar feeding, the leaf area and possibly defoliation should be known. Then you can calculate the difference after 24hrs and convert to percentage (% change). Or you can also fit in some feeding index formulas to calculate the ingestion rate and amount under each treatment.
you have first to set up many replications as you can. each replicate consists of one newly emerged larva in a separate Pitridish with a known amount of the plant leave. Hereafter you have to chick the larvae for moulting and calculate the consumption for example by unit area, and you have to do this step until all the larvae stop feeding and enter into pupal stage. the distinguish between larvae you have to monitoring the exuavia in the pitridish. Hereafter, you have to calculate the mean consumption of each instar from 1st to 6th one. One point to be mentioned that the number of larvae in the first instar should be high as you can because with the progress of the development and moulting toward the 6th instar the mortality will occur this step should be done to have enough replicates in the 6th larval instar. Best wishes