A chemically defined medium for rearing <i>Epiphyas postvittana</i> (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract

Three successive generations of the light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker), were reared axenically on a chemically defined medium formulated from 18 amino acids, a salt mixture, 2 sugars, 11 vitamins, safflower oil, cholesterol, RNA, cellulose powder, and agar. The average generation cycle of about 49 days (at 25 ± l°c, 50–60% R.H., and 12‐h photoperiod) comprised 7 days incubation, 31.5 days larva, 10 days prepupa/pupa, and 2 days adult (pre‐oviposition). The average fecundity was 347 eggs ; 78 % of established larvae reached adulthood ; and the sex ratio was 1.3 ♂: 1 ♀.