Aseptic rearing of the aster leafhopper,Macrosteles fascifrons (Stål), on a chemically defined diet

Abstract

The normal symbiotic aster leafhoppers,Macrosteles fascifrons, were reared under aseptic conditions on the holidic diet through 5 successive generations with normal rates of development, survival and reproduction. Thus the artificial diet is completely adequate for normal insects and dependence on gut organisms is not part of the physiology of this species.