Laboratory Culture of the Pink Bollworm on Chemically Defined Media

Abstract

The pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella. was reared in the laboratory. Egg albumen, crystalline vitamins, dextrose and purified cottonseed oil are the basis of the medium. The proper proportions and the method of prepn. of these constituents are given. An almost completely water soluble medium is obtained which will coagulate to give a homogeneous solid. The medium and conditions descr. may still not be the optimum, since even the shortest time from egg to adult was longer than occurs in the field. The ration and cultural conditions used have proved adequate to allow some of the pink bollworms to develop from eggs to adults.