Use of feeding rate as an indicator of caloric value in some lepidopterous larvae.

A significant, positive correlation between feeding rate and caloric value becomes apparent in 6 species of lepidopterous larvae exposed to different rations, food plants and temperatures. There is a possibility of using feeding rate of the final instar larvae as an indicator of its caloric value. Larvae feeding at the rates of 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg dry weight/g live insect/day contained around 5,320, 5,670, 5,800 and 5,900 g cal/g dry weight, respectively.