Hey, I am working with Psylliodes chrysocephala feeding on oilseed rape. In feeding trials I often have the problem that a huge portion of the beetles do not feed at all. In clip cages I observed some of them not making one bite for more than 7 days. Prior to each trial they dont get feed for 48h.
Are there methods or ideas others than just starving?
thanks, Daniel
Hi, Daniel,
do you know about diapause period for your beetles? If your cages closed too tightly, they can't feed normally. Check conditions.
Hey Galina. V. Benkovskaya , thanks for your answer! The population I am working with,was breeded to not have the typical summer diapause, which is still working quite well. The cages are also big enough, because in some trials almost every beetle feeds, but in the next trial only a few...
Dear Daniel Rüde
The adult beetle can sustain for long period without food. Grubs are the voracious feeders. Could you tell me which stage you testing for feed?
Hi Kariyanna B. , thank you for your answer! I am working with the adult - and yeah, they really can survive without food for weeks! That's why somehow inducing the feeding would be really important.
Daniel Rüde, Then provide the main host instead of the lateral host, maybe that will work.
As an entomologist who has raised many insect species, I can tell you that one common means of increasing the appetite of an insect is to increase temperature, which increases metabolic rate. Some insects will feed little or not at all until certain temps are reached. Bear in mind that an increase in temp/metabolic rate will decrease overall life span (they will age faster), and that you may need to increase water availability to prevent dehydration.
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