ARS | Publication request: WHEAT GERM OIL AND A LOW WASTE LIQUID LARVAL DIET FOR REARING ORIENTAL FRUIT FLIES, BACTROCERA DORSALIS(HENDEL) (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE)

Submitted to: Entomology Society of America Pacific Branch Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: January 31, 2006
Publication Date: March 5, 2006
Citation: Chang, C.L., Vargas, R.I. 2006. Wheat germ oil and a low waste liquid larval diet for rearing oriental fruit flies, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera:Tephritidae). Entomology Society of America Pacific Branch Meeting.

Interpretive Summary: Oriental fruit flies are the worldwide pests. In order to achieve SIT (Sterilization Insect Technology) control program, a mass production of insects needed to be reared in the laboratory. It would be the most convenient if the insects possess the high reproductive abilities. The higher the viable eggs are the easier to mass reared fruit flies. We have been working on developing a liquid diet fruit fly larval rearing. The hatchability of eggs from adults Bactrocera dorsalis whose larvae reared on a liquid larval rearing diet was low in the early stage during the liquid diet development.

Technical Abstract: Wheat germ oil was added into a low waste larval liquid diet for rearing Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) to optimize the fruit fly performance. Various concentrations of 0.04, 0.07, 0.15, 0.30, and 0.66 % of wheat germ oil were evaluated. Results showed that the addition of wheat germ oil did not affect the pupal weight, larval developmental period, adult emergence, mating, or the peak time for egg production. But an increase in the pupal recovery, percent flier, egg production, and egg hatch were significant in comparison to those from the standard liquid diet without wheat germ oil. The increase in egg hatch is dose dependent. Data was analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance using the ANOVA and Proc Univariate procedure of the SAS statistical analysis software package with honest significant difference (HSD).