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Model structure and governing equations

The change in length for an individual larva over time is given by: (1)where L is larval length in μm and α is the rate at which the larva grows in units of d−1. Larval growth rate (α) is based on formulations that allow differential metabolism of the protein, carbohydrate, and lipid content of the food ingested by the larva. Thus, net production is expressed as the difference between assimilated ingestion (AI) and respiration (R): (2)where i represents the four basic biochemical components included in the model: protein, polar lipid, neutral lipid, and carbohydrate. Excretion is assumed to be a minor carbon loss in comparison to respiration. The model given by Equations (1) and (2) is an individual based model and, as such, represents the average individual in a population. The simulations obtained from the individual based model are extended to include the genetic variation of the larger larval population, as described subsequently.

I understand this, but I'm only searching for the numerical quantity in grams. And in larval crowding experiment supplied with optimal of food in every different treatment batches and larval crowding experiment supplied with same amount of food in every different treatment batches, in both cases how will be the effects of competition and suppose if there is competition in both cases then what is that the individuals compete for space,food or anything else?

Hello:

Melanitis leda utilizes a number of larval host plants in the Poaceae family, including Oryza sativa (Asian Rice), Zea mays (Maize). Golden Beard Grass (Chrysopogon fallax ), Giant Spear Grass (Heteropogon triticeus ),Cogon Grass ( Imperata cylindrica ),Southern Cut Grass ( Leersia hexandra ), Molasses Grass ( Melinis minutiflora ), Sugar Cane ( Saccharum officinarum ), Millet ( Sorghum vulgare ), and Kangaroo Grass ( Themeda triandra ). It can be a pest of some crops.

This is a very easy species to rear. The caterpillars feed on leaves of the host plant, and tend to rest lengthwise on the underside of a grass blade during pauses between feeds. The caterpillars are gregarious and often feed and rest together (in a neat row) on the leaf underside.

This species is gregarious so larval crowding is not the problem for the first to the third instars. The problem is with the last instars because they need to eat more so is important to get enough quantity of fresh food  daily for succesful pupation and development. The optimal quantity of food depends on how many caterpillars you want to rear.