Research Entomologist USDA-ARS Cleveland, Mississippi
Three different environmental variables were examined for their impact on leg pigmentation on Chrysodeixis includens larvae. Variables included: rearing temperature, hours of daylight during the larval period, and density of C. includes rearing in a container. When larvae reached the 3rd instar of development, caterpillars were examined daily and percentage of dark pigmentation on the thoracic legs were recorded. Caterpillars were followed until death or pupation to examine changes in leg color across instars.