Quantities of Consumption and Digestion of Nutrients during the Grub Period with Respect to Tested Cucurbits in Raphidopalpa fovecollis

A knowledge of nutrient requirements of insect pests can provideclues as to how one plant/crop or its varieties are differentially damaged and may provide a suitable basis for breeding insect resistant plant/ crop an insects can evaluate the nutritive composition of foodstuffs on the basis of nutritional superiority. In view of these facts, it was expected that an investigation of the nutritional qualities of food plants and corresponding performance of R. fovecollis, might elucidate factor(s) responsible for the insects' differential association with differen food plants. The results of such an analysis may provide clues for breeding resistant plants.