Nymphal Production of Adults Feeding on an Alsystin Diet, 1985

A 0.031% diet containing the chitin synthesis inhibitor alsystin (=Bay Sir 8514) was fed to newly emerged adults of both sexes. The diet was prepared using a 25% WP formulation and Wayne Laboratory Blox. The Blox were first ground, then sieved with a 20 mesh screen to obtain a finely ground meal. The desired dry weight concentration of AI in the final diet was achieved by mixing a 210 ml suspension of water/alsystin with the proper amount of meal. The diet was then cut into 9 cm3 chunks and allowed to thoroughly dry under a ventilation hood. Upon drying, pairs of adult cockroaches less than 3 days old were placed in individual 0.951 jars provisioned with water, harborage and the alsystin diet. Three feeding regimes were run —15 day, 30 day and continuous feeding. Each treatment combination was replicated 10 times, with observations taken on egg capsule formation and nymphal production every 3 or 4 days