Mass rearing of the common field cricket, Gryllus pennsylvanicus burmeister (Orthoptera, Gryllidae), for use as a test insect in toxicological studies

Abstract

A method of rearing Gryllus pennsylvanicus Burm. is described, designed to yield large numbers of first-instar nymphs of uniform age for toxicological investigations Nymphs are reared to the fourth instar in glass vessels containing a little soil, which prevents cannibalism, and then transferred to glass-topped stock cages having sides and floors of aluminium screening and each accommodating 250 individuals. A mixture of dog-food pellets, oatmeal and milk powder, with fresh oats or clover, is provided throughout as food, and petri dishes of moist fine sand for oviposition. After separation from the sand by sieving, the eggs are incubated in moist soil at 24°C. for one month, subjected to 4°C. for three months to eliminate the obligate diapause, and then returned to 24°C., when 70 per cent, hatch after 15–18 days. The diapause enables eggs to be stored at 4°C. until required. At 24°C., the nymphal stage lasted about 81 days, the adult males and females, which are produced in equal numbers, survived about 62 and 56 days, respectively, oviposition extended over 11 weeks and the average number of eggs laid per female was 970·6.