Abstract
A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine whether the characters of the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon, are affected by larval density. The larvae were reared at densities of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 30 individuals per vessel at 25°C and a 16 : 8h light : dark cycle. The rate of larval and pupal development, the length of preoviposition period and longevity of the male moths were not affected by the density during larval period. The weight of pupae, fecundity and longevity of the female moths were, however, reduced when the larvae were reared at high density. The mortality prior to the 5th moult was low, and the increased mortality in crowded culture occurred mainly between the last larval instar and pupal stage. The aggressive behaviour of the mature larvae was a major factor affecting the density-dependent mortality.
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