Influence of food type on the rate of development of Catantops spissus spissus Walker (Orthoptera: Acrididae)
1990
Appiah, F.O. | Okiy, D.A. | Nnabuchi, S.E.
Catantops spissus spissus were reared in groups of 10 using Calapogonium mucunoides, Zea mays, Elaeis guineensis and Manihot esculenta separately. The proximate compositions of these various food types were analysed and energy contents calculated. This was to establish how food types can influence the rate of development of the insects. The results showed that insects reared on C. mucunoides and Z. mays had the fastest maturing period in days while insects reared on E. guineensis and M. esculenta developed much later. The rate of food consumption could not be related directly to the amounts of individual nutrients nor the total energy content of the food. On the other hand the rate of development of the insect appeared to be directly related to total energy derivable from the overall food consumed. In addition, differences in the rate of development were noticed at the various instar stages. This was also related to the amount of energy consumed from the food types at the particular instar stage.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by National Agricultural Library