Larval, prepupal and pupal mortality was also recorded. The diet was changed regularly. Each experiment was replicated six times with 5 larvae/replication (n = 120). Abbott’s formula was Selleckchem AZD1390 used to correct mortality in the control group (only for % pupal mortality) as given below: $$ \frac\mathrmMt – \mathrmMc\ 100 – \mathrmMc\times \kern0.5em 100 $$ Where Mt: % age mortality in treated group, Mc: % age mortality in control group For the fecundity assay, ten pairs of moths that emerged on the same day from control and 2–3 pairs from treatment group were collected and put into a battery jar lined with

filter paper to facilitate egg laying and absorbent cotton soaked in a 10% sugar solution was provided for moth nutrition. The egg-masses laid were counted daily under stereomicroscope (Magnüs, 10X)

and removed individually to a petri dish for further observation. To evaluate the fertility, egg-masses obtained from control and treatment group were observed daily for hatching, and then the hatch percent was calculated. Nutritional indices The nutritional indices of S. litura were determined by following the procedure of Koul et al. [38]. To find out weight gain, food consumption and feces produced, gravimetric technique was used. All weights were measured in milligrams (mg) using a monopan balance Cilengitide price (Citizen) accurate to 0.1 mg. Newly molted 2nd instar larvae were starved for 1–2 h to clear their digestive tracts. After measuring the initial weight of the larvae carefully with the help of brushes, they were individually introduced into experimental plastic containers containing weighed quantities of control and treated diet. The larvae (30 larvae/concentration including control, 6 replicates) were allowed to feed for a period of three days on diet supplemented with extract as well as control. After this feeding period, larvae were again weighed and weights of larvae, uneaten diet and faecal matter were taken

at the end of the experiment. The net gain or loss in terms of body weight (wet) of individual larvae, food ingested by larva and fecal matter of larvae were calculated by subtracting the initial weight from the final weight at the end of experiment. Dry weights of larvae were taken by incubating the larvae at the end of experiments at 60°C for 72 h inside an incubator. Dapagliflozin Similarly dry weights of different samples of diet and faecal matter were also taken. The dry weight readings indicate water loss under control conditions. From the results the following nutritional indices were obtained as proposed by Waldbauer [39] and all indices were calculated using dry weights. RGR and RCR were calculated on dry weight basis after 3 days of feeding as G/I (G = change in larval dry weight/day and I = selleck chemical starting larval dry weight) and C/I (C = change in diet dry weight/day and I = starting larval dry weight), respectively. Both were calculated as mg/mg/day.