To reduce the cost of obtaining Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), which is an alternative host for mass production of Trichogramma galloi Zucchi, we tested the substitution of yellow corn meal in different proportions for whole wheat meal. We compared the standard diet (97.0% whole wheat, 3.0% yeast) with four experimental diets: corn meal (97.0%) and yeast (3.0%); corn meal (62.7%), whole wheat meal (34.3%) and yeast (3.0%); corn meal (48.5%), whole wheat meal (48.5%) and yeast (3.0%); corn meal (34.3%), whole wheat meal (62.7%) and yeast (3.0%). Rearing room was maintained at 25±1ºC; 12h of photophase and 70±10% RH. The diets containing corn meal, whole wheat meal and yeast produced the best results, which were comparable to those found for the standard diet in all aspects investigated: egg viability and weight, fecundity, developmental time, survival of immature stages, and adult weight. Among the diets containing corn meal, the one with 48.5% of this ingredient promoted the best survival ratio of the immature stages. In addition, adult females originated from these immatures were more fecund than those from immatures which fed the diet containing corn meal and yeast only. But we did not find any significant difference with regard to the others factors investigated.
Insecta; biological control; biology; sugar cane
