A Simple Method for Continuous Rearing of the Striped Cucumber Beetle

Abstract

The striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittata (F.), is used in our laboratory as a test insect in host-plant relationships with the Cucurbitaceae and in other investigations which require only limited numbers of insects. The need for a continuous supply of living forms is mandatory for our laboratory and greenhouse experimentation. Isely (1927) reared small numbers of larvae on large hollow roots of ‘Hubbard’ squash held in vials half filled with moistened soil. The technique was time consuming and was complicated by plant decay problems. Methods of Cuthbert et al. (1968) for mass rearing the banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata LeConte, appeared adaptable to the striped cucumber beetle, but in our studies only small numbers are needed. The method reported here is satisfactory for production of 50–100 beetles/week and requires only ca. 2 hr of labor/week. Our method is patterned after that reported previously (Howe and George 1966) for rearing the spotted cucumber beetle, D. undecimpunctata howardi Barber, except that roots of ‘Blue Hubbard’ squash, Cucurbita maxima Duch., are substituted for corn roots as larval food, and squash leaves as adult food instead of broad bean foliage.