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Studies on the Legume Pod-Borer, Maruca Testulalis (Geyer)—II: Mass-Rearing on Natural Food

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Abstract

A procedure has been developed which allows production of 75,000 eggs per month of the legume pod-borer, Maruca testulalis (Geyer). More than 170 eggs per moth were obtained. The optimal number of moths placed in the mass oviposition cage having potted cowpea plants was 30. The average life-span of the moths was 7.7 and 9.5 days for females and males, respectively. The optimal number of larvae in the rearing box was 50: larval survival declined sharply above a density of 50 per box.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), Private Bag, Mbita, Via Homa Bay, Kenya

    R. S. Ochieng, J. B. Okeyo-owuor & Z. T. Dabrowski

Authors
  1. R. S. Ochieng
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  2. J. B. Okeyo-owuor
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  3. Z. T. Dabrowski
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Ochieng, R.S., Okeyo-owuor, J.B. & Dabrowski, Z.T. Studies on the Legume Pod-Borer, Maruca Testulalis (Geyer)—II: Mass-Rearing on Natural Food. Int J Trop Insect Sci 1, 269–272 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400000515

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400000515

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