Rearing the American bollworm Heliothis armigera on a grass-meal diet.

Abstract

Heliothis armigera (Hb.) was shown to be capable of growing and developing on a simple diet that was based principally on grass meal made from star grass (Cynodon dactylon). Neonatal H. armigera larvae introduced into the diet developed, pupated and emerged successfully. There was no significant difference between the growth rate of larvae reared on the natural diet and the grass-meal-based diet. Adults from the latter diet had a higher emergence rate, but female fecundity was not significantly different.