A Simple Apparatus for Feeding Aphids Aseptically on Chemically Defined Diets

Abstract

Nutritional studies on plant sucking insects have not made outstanding progress in the past decade. The information on the rearing of aphids on prepared liquid foods is rather scanty. Carter (1927, 1928, 1945) developed techniques for the artificial feeding of homopterous insects, particularly leafhoppers and mealybugs. Fife (1932) and Severin et al. (1928) devised cages for the artificial feeding of leafhoppers. These authors suggested many excellent ideas on the use of membranes, but the works of Hamilton (1930, 1935) on the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulz.). appear to be the most thorough source of informarinn on the artificial feeding of aphids. Pletsch (1937) also developed a device for the artificial feeding of aphids and his apparatus presents several advantages over previously described devices. Various types of cages and membranes were used by the above workers with limited success. They have all succeeded in getting homopterous insects to feed temporarily on special diets through different types of membranes, but they were unable to maintain the development of these insects and have them reproduce under artificial conditions.