This study provides some preliminary details on the biology of the leaf beetle Sastroides besucheti Medvedev (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae) occurring on wild nutmeg Myristica malabarica Lam. with damage symptoms. Banana (cv. Jnalipoovan) as a host observed now for the adults is also explained.

Black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (L.) larvae can serve many uses, of which potential exists for its use as a host for mass production of entomopathogenic nematodes. This study evaluates its larval instars for their suitability for rearing of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar) and Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser). The results revealed that 4th instar larvae is economical and effective, and this can be used at farm level. Thus, it can be popularized for mass production of entomopathogenic nematodes. The nematodes/cadaver was found to be half as that from Galleria, and hence two 4th instar cadavers can be recommended in place of a single Galleria cadaver. The results also showed that H. illucens is unsuitable for mass multiplication of S. carpocapsae.