Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T14:01:51.692Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The mating behaviour of Pieris brassicae (L.) in a laboratory culture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

W. A. L. David  and
B. O. C. Gardiner
W. A. L. David
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Council Unit of Insect Physiology, Cambridge.
B. O. C. Gardiner
Affiliation:
Agricultural Research Council Unit of Insect Physiology, Cambridge.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

As part of a general study of the conditions required for satisfactory maintainance of Pieris brassicae (L.) in laboratory culture, an investigation was made of the factors affecting mating behaviour. Notes are given on certain characteristics of the culture from which the experimental material was drawn.

It was established that P. brassicae, over one day old, mated readily at temperatures between 20 and 32°C. provided the daylight illumination was above about 200 lumens/sq. ft. Mating occurred more readily at the higher temperatures and illumination levels than at the lower. It was depressed at very high atmospheric humidities. The size of the cage in which the insects were held was not critical, and pairs formed readily in cages as small as one cubic foot. The population density in the cage was also varied over wide limits without significantly influencing the rate at which pairs formed.

Mating took place much less readily in the artificial lights which were tested than in daylight. The most satisfactory light was found to be bilaterally arranged ‘daylight ’-type fluorescent lamps. The level of mating in this light would probably have been sufficient to maintain a culture but it was far lower than in daylight of the same intensity.

After mating, the females do not usually pair again for five or more days. The males, however, mate more frequently and will often pair several times in the same day.

Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 52 , Issue 2 , June 1961 , pp. 263 - 280
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1961

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

David, W. A. L. (1957). Breeding Pieris brassicae L. and Apanteles glomeratus L. as experimental insects.—Z. PflKrankh. 64 pp. 572–577.Google Scholar
David, W. A. L. & Gardiner, B. O. C. (1952). Laboratory breeding of Pieris brassicae L. and Apanteles glomeratus L.—Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. (A) 27 pp. 54–56.Google Scholar
Digby, P. S. B. (1955). Factors affecting the temperature excess of insects in sunshine.—J. exp. Biol. 32 pp. 279–298.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frohawk, F. W. (1934). The complete book of British butterflies.—384 pp. London, Ward, Lock.Google Scholar
Gardiner, B. O. C. (1957). The annual exhibition: record of exhibits, 29th October 1955.—Proc. S. Lond. ent. nat. Hist. Soc. 1955 plate II, fig. 5 (opposite p. 26).Google Scholar