Keaster, A.J. and Chippendale, G.M. and Pill, B.A. (1975) Feeding behavior and growth of the wireworms Melanotus depressus and Limonius dubitans: effect of host plants, temperature, photoperiod, and artificial diets. Environmental Entomology, 4 (4). pp. 591-595.
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Abstract
The effect of food type, photoperiod and temperature on the behaviour and growth of Melanotus depressus (Melsh.) and Limonius dubitans Lec. was examined. Germinating seeds from several potential host plants were evaluated. During 6 months' treatments, previously starved larvae of M. depressus had the highest growth rates when fed on germinating field maize, wheat or sorghum kernels. After one month's observation of larvae preconditioned to wheat only, those that continued on the same regime showed a significant weight gain. Larvae of L. dubitans that had been preconditioned to wheat kernels, however, showed a significant weight gain over a 3-month period when fed on germinating wheat, soy bean or maize kernels. Studies on temperature and photoperiod with larvae of M. depressus employed combinations of 2 temperatures (21 and 27 deg C), 2 photoperiods (12L:12D and 14L:10D) and 6 diets (germinating wheat kernels in soil or on fibrous cotton and 4 artificial diets on fibrous cotton). The effect of these conditions on larval feeding response, ecdysis, growth and mortality is presented. None of the artificial media were adequate substitutes for the wheat-loam substrate. Similar experiments employing L. dubitans could not be completed because of exceptionally high mortality
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Author Affiliation: | Department of Entomology, Missouri University, Columbia, MO 65201, USA |
| Subjects: | Plant Protection |
| Divisions: | Maize Sorghum |
| Depositing User: | Ms K Syamalamba |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Sep 2012 07:37 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Sep 2012 07:39 |
| URI: | http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/7896 |
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