THE EGG-PRODUCING CAPACITY OF POPULATIONS OF TRIBOLIUM CONFUSUM DUV. AS AFFECTED BY INTENSIVE CANNIBALISTIC EGG-CONSUMPTION
Experiments are described in which adults of Tribolium confusum Duv. are maintained at 27 °C., and 75% relative humidity in four different flour media: (a) ordinary whole wheat flour sifted through 76-mesh bolting cloth, (b) similar flour with from 30 to 135 Tribolium eggs per gm., (c) sifted whole wheat flour plus 3% of finely ground wheat germ and (d) flour plus germ plus eggs.It is shown that when large numbers of eggs are eaten, there is a serious decline in egg production unless wheat germ in excess is also present. This is believed to be due to a scarcity of certain accessory growth substances found in wheat germ but not to the same extent in eggs. When ground wheat germ is present, the beetles seem to do somewhat better in the presence of eggs, possibly because of a better water supply, obtained from the eggs.