Kumar, A. R.V.PRADEEP S, SAJJAN2017-08-292017-08-292016-03-24Th-11313http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810029907An investigation on the effect of different diets on growth and development of greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) was conducted at Department of Agricultural Entomology, UAS, Bengaluru. Preliminary study with 9 diets along with standard diet revealed that diet 10 (0.44 ± 0.14 g) and 4 (0.43 ± 0.06 gm) showed maximum larval weight, diet 1 (28.33 ± 2.91mm) and 10(28.54 ± 1.87 mm) showed maximum length, diet 2 (2.28 ± 0.22 mm) and 7 (2.32 ± 0.15 mm) showed highest head capsule width. The interrelationships observed on 25thday old larvae showed, length to be strongly correlated with weight and weight varied as a power function with head capsule widths. Diet 10, 7, 4, 1 and 8 were selected for further testing. The diet 1 and 4 showed highest larval weights and length among the diets retested and followed logarithmic functions. The interrelationships showed weights and length of the larvae followed power relations with head capsule width in all the diets. Pupal weight and maximum adult emergence were observed in diet 1 (0.34 ± 0.03 g, 2589.33 ± 150.15 adults), followed by diet 4 (0.33 ± 0.02 g, 1936.00 ± 223.06 adults). Average yields of EPNs showed linear increasing trend with age of the larvae. 20day old larvae yielded 55,725.9 (± 30,331.28) IJs per larva whereas 35day old larvae yielded 1,55,711.2 (± 49,392.60) IJs per larva. Studies on formulation of cadavers of nematode infected larvae resulted in lack of emergence of nematodes in all kinds of formulations tested. However, under laboratory conditions starch – kaolin formulation was acceptable for one week period while the talc formulation was acceptable over a two week period. But unformulated cadavers were found to be best over an extended period of two weeks. DepartmentennullThesis