In vitro rearing of the boll weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Ectoparasitoid Catolaccus grandis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on meridic diets

Abstract

The pteromalid grandis Catalaccus grandis (Burks), an obligate ectoparasitoid of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, successfully completed development on 5 original meridic diets. These diets produced C. grandis females of significantly higher quality than those produced on a previously reported meridic diet. Pupal weight and fecundity of females reared in the 5 meridic diets were lower than for females reared in vivo, but, higher than for females reared in a previously developed diet. There was no significant difference between progeny sex ratio of females reared in the 5 new diets from those of females reared in vivo. Based on net reproductive rate (R(o)) values of females reared in the 5 new diets, the best artificial diet showed a R(o) value of 135.16 as compared to an R(o) value of 143.6 for parasitoids reared in vivo. Parasitoids reared in previously developed artificial diets had significantly lower pupal weight, fecundity, survival, and R(o) value as compared with C. grandis reared in the 5 new diets. This implies that the presence of some amino acids such as histidine, proline, and glutamic acid in the correct proportions is essential for the growth and development of C. grandis.