Effects of population density and temperature on the growth and development of Amata sp.

Artificial breeding conditions were used to investigate the effects of population density (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 heads in one culture bottle) and temperature (25 oC, 28 oC, and 31 oC) on the development duration, survival percentage and feeding amount of Amata sp larvae. Compared with group breeding, single-head breeding prolonged the development time, lowered survival percentage and increased feeding amount. The development duration shortened with increased temperature at breeding temperature of 25~31 oC. A temperature range of 28~31 oC was beneficial to the growth and development of Amata sp. The highest survival percentage (79.47%) was obtained at a temperature of 28 oC, and the highest feeding amount per head (2.45 g) was obtained at 31 oC. The optimum artificial breeding conditions about population density were 3~5 heads per culture bottle at the first instar larval stage, and 1 head per culture bottle after the third larval instar stage. The breeding temperature range was 28~31 oC.