LABORATORY REARING OF THE BANDED WOOLLYBEAR,PYRRHARCTIA (ISIA) ISABELLA(LEPIDOPTERA: ARCTIIDAE), ON DIFFERENT DIETS WITH NOTES ON THE BIOLOGY OF THE SPECIES

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Abstract
The banded woollybear,Pyrrharctia (Isia) isabella(J. E. Smith,) was reared under laboratory conditions from egg to adult. Individually reared larvae were fed one of six artificial diets and fresh plantain at 26 °C, light/dark (h) 15/9. The times of moulting, larval and pupal weights, and adult characteristics (fertility, sex) were recorded.Larvae were easily reared on bean, wheat germ, casein – wheat germ and fresh plantain, while casein, alfalfa, and plantain diets proved unsatisfactory. Rearing procedure and developmental characteristics are discussed.