EVOLUTION OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY AND TEMPERATURE WITHIN A CLOSED CHAMBER USED FOR ENTOMOLOGICAL STUDIES

Abstract
A simple experimental device has been described for controlling relative humidity (RH) using saturated salt solutions. This device was suitable for studies requiring a 14–82% RH (± 3%) at 27 ± 0.7°C. The RH and temperature set points were not affected by the presence of grasshoppers. Perturbations of 1.5 min due to daily insect provisioning introduced a 9- to 60-min disturbance of the RH and temperature equilibria in the chambers containing NaCl and LiCl, and a 7.5-h disturbance in the MgCl2 chamber.