THE B VITAMIN REQUIREMENTS OF THE HOUSE CRICKET

Abstract

The importance of 10 B vitamins for growth and survival of the nymphs of Acheta domesticus (L.) was tested by single omission. Thiamine, pyridoxine, nicotinic acid, pantothenic acid, choline, and biotin were found to be essential, the omission of any one of them resulting in very poor growth and in little or no survival to the adult stage. The absence of riboflavin or inositol retarded growth significantly, but a large percentage of the nymphs still reached the adult stage. The lack of folic acid resulted in a significantly longer nymphal stage and in greater mortality towards the end of that period. Only the omission of p-aminobenzoic acid had no significant effect on the nymphs.