Aseptic rearing of Epiphyas postvittana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on a meridic diet

The light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker), was reared aseptically from newly hatched larvae to adults for three generations on a meridic diet. Growth and development on this diet were comparable with that on oligidic diets and on host‐plants. At 25 ± 1°C, 50–60% R.H., and 12‐h photophase, the average larval period was approx. 28 days, pre‐pupal and pupal 11–12 days, and pre‐oviposition approx. 2 days; the incuva‐tion period of eggs was approx. 7 days. The average developmental period from egg to adult was thus about 49 days; 89 % of larvae reached the adult stage. The average fecundity was 598 eggs per female, and the sex ratio was nearly 1:1. There were no differences in the rate of development or in fecundity of insects reared on media with and without a mould inhibitor.