ActaSATECH Journal of Life and Physical Sciences: ISSN: 15971007

Evaluating larval pathogens influencing larval population of C. forda Westwood (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) on the field in two local Government areas of Niger State, Nigeria.

Authors: I Muhammad M, Ande A T,

Pages: (1-10 )

Abstract

The C. forda larvae when processed are cheap alternative protein source for less privileged farmers. 
The processed larvae are good source of animal feeds, cost effective, with nutritive and commercially 
viable. Unfortunately, there are entomopathogenic factors depleting their population. 15 Individually 
handpicked larvae from each replicate of indisposed, sluggish and dying or recently dead individual 
larvae  from  each  site  of  10m  by  10m  quadrat  throws  were  sampled.    C.  forda  larval  population 
handpicked were transferred under sterile condition for pathogenic examination of parasitic agents. The 
thoracic and abdominal regions of each larva were lacerated using sterile forceps to examine under a 
dissecting  microscope  for  parasitic  microbes.  The  teased  out  visceral  contents  were  stained  and 
examined microscopically after placing on a flame to remove air bubbles. The isolates from the larvae 
were identified. The results revealed Gurara LGA had, two virus- Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) 
and Granulosis Virus (GV) with (75.5% and 24.5%) respectively and high intensity of occurrence. In 
Katcha LGA recording four , 44.2%  of Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) impacted more followed by 
29.3% of  (Nomeraea rileyi (Nr) and 15.1% of Beauveria bassiana (Bb) with the least of 11.4% of 
Granulosis Virus (GV) across all the sites

Keywords: Evaluating, Pathogens, Larval, Population , Field,

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