Abstract
To determine suitable dyes for internal marking of the smaller tea tortrix moth (Adoxophyes sp.), larvae were fed 52 different dyes incorporated into artificial diets. The adults were dissected to inspect their organs and tissues stained with the dyes. Ductus ejaculatorius simplex and accessory glands of males were stained red with hydrophilic dyes such as Sudan Red (SR, 0.2%, W/V) and Rhodamine B (RB, 0.1%). When an untreated female copulated with a male marked with SR or RB, the females spermatheca became noticeably red with the stained material transferred from the male. However, the SR and RB stains faded each day and some males were unmarked 3 days after emergence. In the case of lipophilic dyes, fat bodies, ovaries and testes were stained blue and red with Sudan Black (SB, 0.2%) and Sudan III (SIII, 0.4%), respectively. The marked males transferred stained spermatophores into the paired females and the marked females laid stained eggs. The stains of fat bodies did not fade for 5 to 6 days and even after several matings. Although larval growth was slightly retarded and pupal weights were somewhat decreased by treatment with SB and SIII, the marked specimens (with SB, SIII, or RB) were fully competitive with untreated specimens in mating under laboratory conditions.
