Food intake and feeding behaviour of porina (Wiseanaspp.) (Lepidoptera : Hepialidae) larvae in the field

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In the field, porina (Wiseana spp.) larvae were individually isolated and each fed weighed amounts of white clover (Trifolium repens) leaves until pupation. The experiment was carried out over 2 consecutive years. In 1969 the average nightly intake of white clover (green weight) for a healthy larva increased from 0.0078 g in May to 0.0340 g in September. In 1970, the average nightly intake increased from 0.0068 g in March to 0.0226 g in September. The feeding behaviour of individual larvae was found to be very irregular. Over the approximate 8-month long subterranean stage, all larvae had at least one non-feeding period of one night or more, and in many situations this exceeded 10 consecutive nights. The mean number of larvae which fed on anyone night was 50% of the population.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: