AN APPARATUS FOR EXCHANGING DIETS RAPIDLY DURING ARTIFICIAL FEEDING OF SUCKING INSECTS

Abstract

AbstractAn apparatus is described which permits either continuous or interrupted flow of diet under a membrane through which piercing and sucking insects can feed. The flow does not affect feeding behaviour while allowing a replacement of one diet by another which is 99% effective in less than 2 sec, using approximately 2 ml of diet. Monitoring electrical conductivity of a diet at the feeding membrane permits quantitative evaluation of exchange efficiency. Use of this apparatus in experiments on dietary requirements and mass-rearing are discussed.