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LABORATORY REARING OF THE BANDED WOOLLYBEAR, PYRRHARCTIA (ISIA) ISABELLA (LEPIDOPTERA: ARCTIIDAE), ON DIFFERENT DIETS WITH NOTES ON THE BIOLOGY OF THE SPECIES

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Mark S. Goettel
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada K1N 6N5
Bernard J. R. Philogène
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada K1N 6N5

Abstract

The banded woollybear, Pyrrharctia (Isia) isabella (J. E. Smith,) was reared under laboratory conditions from egg to adult. Individually reared larvae were fed one of six artificial diets and fresh plantain at 26 °C, light/dark (h) 15/9. The times of moulting, larval and pupal weights, and adult characteristics (fertility, sex) were recorded.

Larvae were easily reared on bean, wheat germ, casein – wheat germ and fresh plantain, while casein, alfalfa, and plantain diets proved unsatisfactory. Rearing procedure and developmental characteristics are discussed.

Résumé

On a élevé Pyrrharctia (Isia) isabella (J. E. Smith) en laboratoire de l’oeuf à l’adulte. Les larves ont été exposées individuellement à 6 diètes différentes et à du plantain frais, à 26 °C et un régime photopériodique 15/9 (heures). On a pris note des périodes de mue, des poids des larves et des pupes, et des caractéristiques imaginales (sexe, fertilité).

L’élevage des larves s’est affectué facilement sur les diètes de haricots, germe de blé, caséine-germe de blé, et sur le plaintain frais; les diètes à base de caséine, luzerne et plantain n’ont pas donné satisfaction. La discussion porte sur la procédure d’élevage et les caractéristiques du développement de l’insecte.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1978

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