New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts

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Wiseana copularis larvae (Hepialidae: Lepidoptera): laboratory rearing procedures and effect of temperature on survival

Rachel A. Allan
Qiao Wang^*
Alfredo Jiménez-Pérez^**
Lorraine K. Davis

Plant Protection, Institute of Natural Resources
Private Bag 11 222
Massey University
Palmerston North, New Zealand
email: Q.Wang@massey.ac.nz

^**Permanent address: Ceprobi-IPN, Carr. Yautepec-Jojutla Km 8.5, 62730 Yautepec Morelos, Mexico.

Abstract  Wiseana larvae are a serious pest of pasture in New Zealand but can be difficult to rear in the laboratory for research purposes. A method is described whereby field-collected larvae were successfully raised to adults. Larvae were reared individually at 5, 10, 15, and 20°C in petri dishes containing moistened bark and were fed with a semi-synthetic diet based on white clover and carrot. Survival to both pupation and adulthood was greatest at 15°C, at which about 46% of field-collected larvae pupated and 39% developed to adults.

Keywords  Hepialidae; Wiseana copularis; rearing; artificial diet

A01018 Received 25 June 2001; accepted 19 November 2001
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2002, Vol. 45: 71–75
0028–8233/02/4501–0071 $7.00/0 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2002

PDF file of entire paper: Print-quality

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