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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Biological Control of Insects Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300215

Title: A meridic diet for continuous rearing of Arma chinensis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae)

Author
item ZOU, D - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item WU, H - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item Coudron, Thomas
item ZHANG, L - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item WANG, M - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item LIU, C - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences
item CHEN, H - Chinese Academy Of Agricultural Sciences

Submitted to: Biological Control
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2013
Publication Date: 10/10/2013
Citation: Zou, D.Y., Wu, H.H., Coudron, T.A., Zhang, L.S., Wang, M.Q., Liu, C.X., Chen, H.Y. 2013. A meridic diet for continuous rearing of Arma chinensis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae). Biological Control. 67(3):491-497.

Interpretive Summary: The beneficial predatory insect, Arma chinensis, has the ability to effectively suppress several major agricultural and forest pests, including the Colorado potato beetle, the cotton bollworm, and mired bugs. The desire to use this predator is increasing as the pest insects develop resistance to chemical control. To meet the potential use of the predator will require cost-effective methods to produce large numbers of the beneficial. Artificial diets have a long history of use in the economic production of insects. This study presents the formulation of an artificial diet that supported the rearing of Arma chinensis and compares developmental parameters of diet-fed and natural prey-fed predators. Although diet-fed predators did not develop as well as prey-fed predators, the diet did support rearing for consecutive generations which is a significant achievement and indicates an effective artificial diet can be developed. Researchers, insectaries and producers will benefit from the development of a diet to support the mass rearing in this beneficial predator.

Technical Abstract: An artificial diet comprised of pig liver and tuna fish but devoid of insect components was developed for the predator Arma chinensis (Fallou), which is capable of effectively controlling Colorado potato beetle, cotton bollworm, and mirid bugs. Weight and body length of eggs and adults were lower as was fecundity and egg viability for diet-fed A. chinensis compared to A. chinensis reared on the facticious host, pupae of the Chinese oak silk moth Antheraea pernyi (Guérin-Méneville). Developmental time from second instar to adult and the preovipositional period were significantly longer for diet-fed A. chinensis. Cannibalism was higher with diet-fed A. chinensis. Nymphal weight, body length, longevity of adult, survival from second instar to adult, and fertility increased, but the sex ratio (F/M) decreased, with rearing consecutive generations on the diet. These changes may indicate that the predators experience some degree of adaptation to, or selection for, the diet after several consecutive generations. No changes in developmental time of egg and first instar, or survival from first to second instar with successive generations reared on the artificial diet. Females under all treatments were heavier than the males, and the males lived longer than females. The diet-fed A. Chinensis released much less defense odor when disturbed. Additionally, a combination of plant and artificial diet resulted in reduced cannibalism.