CABBAGE-LOOPER (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) FECUNDITY MAXIMIZED BY A COMBINATION OF ACCESS TO WATER AND FOOD, AND REMATING

Fecundity of female cabbage looper moths, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), wa s increased significantly by availability of water, availability of su gar and honey as food, and by remating. Both starved and fed females t hat remated laid significantly more eggs than females that did not rem ate. Fecundity was not correlated with pupal weight. Increases in fecu ndity with availability of water and food, and with remating, were add itive and maximal fecundity was attained when water, food, and multipl e mates were all available to female moths.