Effects of artificial diets supplemented with different nutrient sources on the biology of Neoseiulus californicus
Author of the article:LIU Jing-Yue；Lü Jia-Le； WANG En-Dong；XU Xue-Nong；WANG Sen-Shan
Author's Workplace：College of Plant Protection, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management in Crops, Ministry of Agriculture/Institute of P1ant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
Key Words：Neoseiulus californicus; artificial diets, nutrient source; biological parameter
Abstract：Neoseiulus californicus is a globally distributed predatory mite that is an effective biological control for Tetranychus urticae. The first N. californicus population in China was discovered in 2010. Although this population has since been successfully mass reared, rearing costs are high. [Objectives] To reduce the costs of mass rearing N. californicus by developing an improved artificial food. [Methods] The relative merits of two kinds of rearing units and 8 kinds of artificial diets for rearing N. californicus were compared. [Results] Rearing efficiency was better using a “diet-permeated” rearing unit. The basic diet plus 20% haemolymph of tussah pupae was the best of the eight diets tested. N. californicus reared on this diet completed development and laid an average of 7.04 eggs per female. [Conclusion] Using a diet-permeated rearing unit and basic diet plus 20% tussah pupae haemolymph can potentially reduce the cost of mass producing N. californicus and other specialist predatory mites for biological control.