Comadia redtenbacheri (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) Pupal Development in the Laboratory
Keywords:
agave redworm, edible insect, insect rearing, Agave spp.Abstract
Wild populations of Comadia redtenbacheri Hammerschmidt (Lepidoptera: Cossidae), known in its larval stage as the agave redworm, are gathered intensively for sale and consumption as food. To define adequate conditions for their pupation in confinement, the effect of handling larvae during collection, their weight when induced to pupate, substrate type and the moisture content provided during this stage of development, were evaluated over 2 consecutive yr. These factors were analyzed by logistic regression (PROC GENMOD, α = 0.05), relative to the emergence of adults. The relationship between larval weight and adult sexual gender was analyzed with a contingency table. The larvae exhibited adaptation to different substrates used for pupation, and substrates could be reused. The heavy clay content soil from areas where agaves grow, mixed with vermiculite (50:50), was the most suitable substrate (estimated value 0.7304). Moisture had no significant effect on pupation. Emergence of adults was significantly greater from larvae that had not been handled roughly as those acquired from commercial venders. According to the Chi-square test, the capacity to pupate by fifth instar larvae that weighed 0.30 to 0.39 g was not significantly different from that of the sixth and seventh instars that weighed 0.40 g or more. Males emerged mainly from cocoons produced by the smallest larvae, while females emerged mainly from cocoons by heavier larvae.
Las poblaciones silvestres de Comadia redtenbacheri Hammerschmidt, (Lepidoptera: Cossidae), conocido en su estado larval como gusano rojo del maguey, son colectadas de manera intensiva para su venta y consumo como alimento. Con el objeto de definir las condiciones adecuadas para la pupación en confinamiento, se evaluaron durante dos años consecutivos el efecto de la manipulación de las larvas durante la colecta, su peso al ser inducidas a pupar, así como el tipo de sustrato y la humedad proporcionados durante esta etapa de desarrollo. Los factores se analizaron mediante regresión logística (PROC GENMOD, α = 0.05), con base en la emergencia de adultos. La relación entre el peso larval y el sexo de los adultos se analizó con una tabla de contingencia. Las larvas se adaptaron a los diferentes sustratos utilizados para la pupación, los que incluso pueden ser reutilizados. La mezcla de suelo arcilloso de las áreas magueyeras con vermiculita en proporción 50:50 fue la más adecuada (valor estimado 0.7304). La humedad no tuvo un efecto significativo en el proceso de pupación. Al utilizar larvas sin manipulación con fines comerciales, la emergencia de adultos aumentó significativamente con respecto a las manipuladas. De acuerdo con la prueba de Chi Cuadrada, las larvas de quinto instar con peso de 0.30 a 0.39 g que logran pupar y emerger como adultos, no presentan diferencias significativas con las larvas de sexto y séptimo instares y peso de 0.40 o más. Los machos emergieron principalmente de puparios producidos por las larvas más pequeñas, mientras que las hembras lo hicieron de puparios que albergaron a larvas de mayor peso.
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