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The copyright of a submitted article is only transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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Effects of Ingesting <i>Bacillus Thuringiensis</i> (Berliner) Spores on Developmental Stages and Fecundity of Surviving Sesamia Calamistis (Hampson) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Abstract
Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner was isolated from dead Sesamia calamistis Hampson (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae collected from maize farms in Cape Coast, Ghana. Spores produced from the vegetative cells were incorporated into an artificial diet and fed to 2nd instar S. calamistis larvae. The duration of larval and pupal periods was calculated for both the treated and untreated larvae. Sex ratio was determined. The total numbers of eggs laid by treated and untreated females were recorded. Total generation periods for both the treated and untreated larvae were calculated. 40.9% of treated larvae survived infection and pupated, whilst 75.8% of the untreated larvae pupated. Sex ratio of pupae developing from both the treated and untreated larvae did not differ significantly (P>0.05). Female pupae developing from the untreated larvae were significantly heavier than those from treated larvae (P<0.01). More eggs (466.6 ±11.5) were laid by female moths that developed from the untreated larvae. Weights of female pupae from both the treated and untreated larvae positively correlated with the number of eggs laid. Ingestion of bacterial spores did not affect the viability of the eggs produced, since 73.5% of eggs from the treated adults and 76.9% of eggs from the untreated adults hatched. B. thuringiensis ingestion resulted in a 58.2% reduction in fecundity in adult moths that developed from the treated larvae. Total generation period of the treated larvae was increased by 5.9 days.
Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 26 (3) 2003: pp. 73-80
