THE NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF GRASSHOPPERS: I. REARING OF THE GRASSHOPPER, MELANOPLUS BIVITTATUS (SAY), ON A COMPLETELY DEFINED SYNTHETIC DIET AND SOME EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF B-VITAMIN MIXTURE, LINOLEIC ACID, AND β-CAROTENE

Abstract

Melanoplus bivittatus (Say) can be reared From the first-instar nymphal stage to the adult stage on an amorphous diet consisting of essential chemical feeding requirements such as carbohydrates (sucrose, glucose, and soluble starch), protein (casein), salt mixture, cholesterol, ascorbic acid, and B-vitamin mixture. This suggests that the chemical feeding requirements of M. bivittatus are essentially similar to those of other phytophagous insects. The physical requirements for feeding, especially alphacel, which provides the necessary bulk to the diet, and the effect of available moisture in the container used for rearing the nymphs under laboratory conditions are demonstrated, in addition, effects of different concentrations of B-vitamin mixture, linoleic acid, and β-carotene on growth and development of these nymphs have been shown. Lower concentrations of B-vitamin mixture do not support optimal growth and higher concentrations do not further improve growth appreciably. β-Carotene is required for normal pigmentation of the nymphs, but is not required for growth and development. Linoleic acid is not required for growth of the nymphs, but is necessary for normal molting to the adult stage.