Gravimetric Method for the Measurement of Sugar Consumption by adult Velvetbean Caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Abstract
Determination of food consumption by adult Lepidoptera, especially noctuid species, has not been well studied, possibly because of a lack of appropriate methodology. In order to measure sugar consumption by velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hübner, a gravimetric method was developed and is presented here together with results obtained using this method. After 24-h exposure to a moth, liquid consumption by the moth was determined by weighing the remaining solution on an electronic balance. The amount of solution consumed was calculated by converting the difference between the weight of the remaining solution and that of the unfed control to a volumetric value. Velvetbean caterpillar moths consumed a significantly greater volume of solution at lower sugar concentrations than at higher concentrations. Female moths from larvae reared on soybean foliage in field cages consumed three times that of moths from larvae reared on artificial diet in the laboratory. This method was simple, accurate, and required minimum handling of test insects. It was suitable for the measurement of food consumption of velvetbean caterpillar moths and could also be suitable for other lepidopteran species.Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright for any article published in Florida Entomologist is held by the author(s) of the article. Florida Entomologist is an open access journal. Florida Entomologist follows terms of the Creative Commons, Attribution Non-Commercial License (cc by-nc). By submitting and publishing articles in Florida Entomologist, authors grant the FOJ and Florida Entomologist's host institutions permission to make the article available through Internet posting and electronic dissemination, and to otherwise archive the information contained both electronically and in a hard printed version. When used, information and images obtained from articles must be referenced and cited appropriately. Articles may be reproduced for personal, educational, or archival purposes, or any non-commercial use. Permission should be sought from the author(s) for multiple, non-commercial reproduction. Written permission from the author(s) is required for any commercial reproduction.