Laboratory rearing of Forcipomyia spp. midges (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae); 1: Adult feeding larval feeding and copulation trials; a revision of Saunders method of rearing
Laboratory mass rearing of Forcipomyia may be important to increase the pollination of Theobroma cacao L. The Saunders rearing method permits the rearing of only one generation. Several compounds were tested as adult food, in order to increase the reproductive capacity. The value of several microorganisms as larval food was tested, as well as the effect of larval density on larval growth. The effect of temperature and humidity was tested on adult longevity, and the degree of fertilization in emergence boxes was compared to the degree in the field. Feeding on a combination of sugar and a cacao flower increased the percentage of females ovipositing from 33.3 to 71.4 per cent and the size of the batches from 55.5 to 117.3 eggs, as compared to sugar only. This effect could not be imitated by adding casein, cholesterol or calcium oxalate to the adult diet. Larvae grew quickest on malt agar dishes with Pseudomonas sp. and Xanthomonas sp. Saprophytic fungi appeared to inhibit growth. There is a density above which growth is inhibited. Within the ranges above and below this density there is no clear density effect
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | biblioteca |
| Published: |
1978
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| Subjects: | THEOBROMA CACAO, FORCIPOMYIA, HABITOS ALIMENTARIOS, COPULA, CERATOPOGONIDAE, COMPORTAMIENTO SEXUAL, |
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