Larval dietary restriction in Lepidoptera (Nymphalidae)

Knowledge graph centered on Larval dietary restriction in Lepidoptera (Nymphalidae) with 37 nodes and 127 connections. Top connected: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera.

Method synopsis

Controlled food deprivation during larval development by reducing feeding frequency to half that of controls, creating 3-4 periods of 24h food absence. Used to simulate natural resource limitation during development.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 1 paper using this protocol.

Procedure as described in the canonical source

Steps below were extracted from the paper that introduces this protocol — Carry-over effects of larval food stress on adult energetics and life history in a nectar-feeding butterfly (2022), Ecological Entomology. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Rear larvae in greenhouse
   Females kept in cylindrical glass cages under controlled temperature and light conditions. Larvae were organized in family groups over leaves of potted host plant Viola sororia (Violaceae). Last-instar larvae reaching 25 mm length were allocated mass-matched siblings to control and dietary restriction treatments
   Quantities: 16 females in control treatment, 23 in larval DR treatment across 13 familiesDuration: January to March 2012 for larval rearingConditions: LD 16:8 h at 27:16°C temperature cycle in greenhouse
   Equipment: cylindrical glass cages, potted Viola sororia plants, greenhouse facilities
2. Apply dietary restriction treatment
   DR treatment larvae received fresh leaves half as often as controls, resulting in 3-4 periods of approximately 24h without food. Up to 5 siblings kept in same bag, with pupae collected the day after pupation, weighed, and placed in individual containers in greenhouse
   Quantities: 3-4 periods of 24h food deprivation per individualDuration: During last larval instar developmentConditions: Greenhouse conditions maintained
   Equipment: individual containers for pupae

Typical Equipment

• cylindrical glass cages
• potted Viola sororia plants

Output Measurements

• pupal mass
• adult body mass
• development time

Papers Using This Protocol (1)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used