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Laboratory rearing of the legume pod borer, Maruca testulalis Geyer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on a semi-synthetic diet

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

F. O. Onyango  and
J. P. R. Ochieng'-Odero
F. O. Onyango
Affiliation:
ODERO International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology P. 0. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
J. P. R. Ochieng'-Odero
Affiliation:
ODERO International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology P. 0. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

The legume pod-borer, Maruca testulalis was reared in the laboratory for 10 successive generations using a semi-synthetic diet. The diet was composed of locally available soybean flour and cowpea flower powder as basal ingredients. The artificial medium was as suitable as the cowpea host plant for M, testulalis in supporting larval growth and development. Fecundity increased with advancing generations on the artificial medium. Field collected pupae were heavier than diet-reared pupae. However, the fecundity, fertility, adult life span, and sex ratio did not differ between the two rearing regimes. The laboratory-reared insects were of acceptable uniform quality and predictable performance even after 10 successive generations of laboratory rearing. Adult emergence ranged between 70–90%. One litre of diet produced on average 400 pupae or adults with a mean fecundity of 200 eggs per female. One person working 8 hr/day can produce a minimum of 1000 healthy pupae or adults daily. The laboratory rearing management protocol is described.

Résumé

Dix générations du foreur de cosses de legumineuses, Maruca testulalis ont été élevées au laboratoire, sur un milieu semi artificiel. Les principaux ingredients de ce milieu ont ete la farine de soja et la poudre de fleurs de niébé. Ce milieu a pu supporter le developpement et la croissance larvaire de M. testulalis aussi convenablement que le milieu naturel. line augmentation en fécondité a été observée au fur et à mesure qu'on a avancé dans le nombre de generations. Bien que le poids des pupes obtenues en milieu de culture naturel ait été plus élevé que celui des pupes obtenues en milieu artificiel, la fécondité, la fertilité, la durée de vie de l'adulte et le rapport male/femelle n'ont montré aucune difference. Les insectes élevés en laboratoire ont été de qualité acceptable et de performance prévue même après dix générations successives. L'émergence des adultes a varié entre 70–90%. Un litre de milieu nutritif produit en moyenne 400 pupes ou adultes avec une fécondité moyenne de 200 oeufs par femelles. Une personne travaillant 8 hr par jour pourrait produire un minimum de 1000 pupes/adultes sains. Un protocole de gestion de cet élevage en laboratoire est décrit.

Keywords

Legume pod-borerMaruca testulalismass rearinglife cyclesemi-synthetic dietForeur de cosse de legumineusesMaruca testulalisélevage en massemilieu nutritif semiartificiel
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 14 , Issue 5-6 , December 1993 , pp. 719 - 722
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1993

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