Study on Biological Characteristics of Artificial Breeding Adults of Hepialus Xiaojinensis the Larval Host of Cordyceps sinensis
冬虫夏草菌寄主小金蝠蛾人工饲养成虫生物学特性

Hepialus xiaojinensis is one of the best host species of Cordyceps sinensis. In artificial culturing of C. sinensis, the reproductive ability in host adults of Hepialus is one of the limiting factors. In this study, the comparison experiments were conducted on the reproductive characteristics of H. xiaojinensis adults between wild parents and their artificial breeding descendants, and the biological characteristics, such as morpha, emergence, copulation, oviposition, life span, were observed. The results indicated, the weight of breeding adults is lighter and the life span is shorter than wild parents. The significant difference(P<0.01) in the oviposition amount between wild parents and breeding descendants adults was discovered. However, no significant difference (P>0.05) was presented between R1 and R2. Fortunately, the behaviors of emergence, copulation and oviposition were similar between wild parents and their artificial breeding descendants. Further more, the population growth rate of R2 and R3 was 177.27% and 117.56% respectively, therefore. The sustainable utility of the artificial breeding population of H. Xiavjinensis was obtained.