Rearing of Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) on an artificial diet without dry cruciferous leaf powder

Abstract

An improved artificial diet without dry cruciferous leaf powder for the cabbage small white, Pieris rapae, was investigated. The diet consisted of kidney bean, chlorella powder, dried cowpea leaf powder, casein, dry yeast powder, cholin chroride, inositol, ascorbic acid, cholesterol, lenolenic acid, sodium poropionate, citric acid monohydrate, cellulose powder, agar and water. It was consumed readily by larvae with more than 70% of the larvae developing into adults.