An artificial diet for butterflies, including Bicyclus species, and its effect on development period, weight and wing pattern

Abstract

A semi-artificial diet based on bean flour suitable for the laboratory rearing of butterflies is described. The effect of the diet on development period, pupal weight and wing colour pattern was examined. Butterflies of the species Bicyclus anynana reared on living maize plants developed faster and were heavier, but there was no significant effect of diet on colour pattern.