Mass-Rearing of the Larvae of Nine Noctuid Species on a Simple Artificial Medium12

Abstract

A simple artificial medium has been developed and handling procedures have been devised to facilitate the mass-rearing of a variety of noctuid species with a minimum expenditure of time and money. The medium, composed of dry beans, yeast, ascorbic acid, agar, water, and 3 mold inhibitors, satisfactorily supports the development of larvae of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hübner) ; the alfalfa looper, Autographa californica (Speyer); the yellow-striped armyworm, Prodenia ornithogalli Guenée; the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) ; the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Bocklie) ; the tobacco budworm, H. virescens (F.); H. phloxiphaga G. & R.; the armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth); and the variegated cutworm, Peridroma saucia (Hübner). Details are given concerning the development, viability, and fecundity of laboratory-reaied individuals of the first 6 of these species.