A larval diet for the boll weevil containing an acetone powder of cotton squares.

A larval diet for the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boh., has been developed using a protein source natural to the species an acetone powder from squares, bolls, or leaves from the cotton plant. The most successful diet contains acetone powder from squares in addition to agar, salts, sugar, vitamins, cholesterol, soybean protein and water. The weevils reared on this diet are larger than those reared on diets using soybean protein or casein as the only source of protein. By adding two mold inhibitors, sorbic acid and methyl p -hydroxybenzoate, the need for the sterilization of the diet is eliminated. Successive generations of weevils can be maintained in the laboratory by allowing adults to feed and to oviposit in cotton squares. Eggs are then recovered from the squares and are placed in the larval diet. The weevils reach maturity in 2 to 3 weeks at 27C.