Rearing spodoptera exempta on semi-synthetic diets and on growing maize
1975
DAVID, W.A.L. | ELLABY, SUSAN | TAYLOR, G.
Larvae of S. exempta can be reared very successfully on a diet containing dried maize-leaf powder renewed at about weekly intervals. The larvae pass through either five or six instars, as shown by measuring their head capsules. Sterilized soil should be provided for pupation. The moisture content of the soil does not appear to influence the survival, fecundity or fertility of the adults. At 25°C the eggs hatched in about 74 h, the larval period was 12-16 days, and the pupal period between 10 and 12 days. More than 90% of first-instar larvae reached adulthood. The average number of eggs laid by a female in 5 days, taken over six generations, was 602 ± 62 but, on average, only about 50% hatched. All these values are equal to, or better than, those obtained with a stock whose larvae were always fed on growing maize plants. At 20° development was very much slower. The eggs hatched in about 174 h, the larval period was 25-30 days and the pupal period 18-19 days, i.e., on average, about 26 days longer from the time the egg was laid to the time the adult emerged.
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