Qualitative amino acid requirements of the red-banded leaf roller, Argyrotaenia velutinana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract

The growth and development of the red-banded leaf roller, Argyrotaenia velutinana (Walker), on a diet containing 18 l-amino acids as a source of nitrogen is described. Feeding tests under aseptic conditions showed that arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine were indispensable for larval growth. Three successive generations were reared axenically from egg to adult on an amino acid mixture containing only the indispensable amino acids patterned after the amino acid composition of the insect carcass. The relative effectiveness of single dispensable amino acids, a mixture of dispensable amino acids, diammonium citrate, urea, and biuret to promote larval growth varied when added as nitrogenous supplements to a low dietary level of the indispensable amino acids. Sex differences were also observed with regard to the relative effectiveness of the nitrogenous supplements. Of the supplements tested only urea and biuret failed to promote larval growth. Optimum growth was achieved when the indispensable amino acids were supplemented with a mixture of dispensable amino acids.