Laboratory Rearing of the Tobacco Hornworm, Protoparce sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

Abstract
A method for the continuous laboratory rearing of the tobacco hornworm is described. Essential requirements are: 1) a large flight cage covered with cheesecloth and creation of an “artificial dusk” to insure mating and oviposition; 2) hand-feeding of adults with sucrose solution; 3) jars of moist sand for pupation; 4) living solanaceous plants for oviposition sites; and 5) fresh or frozen solanaceous plants for larval food; many species are suitable. A semisynthetic diet may be fed during the last 2 instars. Pupal diapause is prevented by exposing the larvae to a photoperiod of 16 hours each day. A generation is completed in approximately 40 days.

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