Biocontrol Science and Technology (2005) 15, 519-525

W.H. Jenner, J.E. Cossentine, J. Whistlecraft and U. Kuhlmann (2005)
Host rearing is a bottleneck for classical biological control of the cherry bark tortrix: A comparative analysis of artificial diets
Biocontrol Science and Technology 15 (5), 519-525
Abstract: This paper describes a comparative analysis of the suitability of three artificial diets for the development of the cherry bark tortrix (CBT), Enarmonia formosana Scopoli (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), to simplify the rearing process for this species and its potential classical biological control agents. The three diets tested included (1) a pinto bean-based diet modified specifically for the CBT, (2) the diet for codling moth, Cydia pomonella Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and (3) the Singh general-purpose diet. Survival from first instar to the pupal stage was very low on the pinto bean, codling moth, and Singh general-purpose diets (29, 0, and 0%, respectively). Survival was consistently greater, yet still low, for larvae that were reared through the first instar on bark and subsequently transferred to the codling moth or Singh general-purpose diets (5 and 32%, respectively). In comparison, larvae started on the pinto bean diet as second instars had a survival rate of 90%, only slightly below that of sibling larvae from the cherry bark control group (100%). Larval development time was fastest on cherry bark (36±2 days), differing significantly from that on the pinto bean diet (started as first instars: 58±2?days; started as second instars: 46±2 days), but not from the development time of larvae on the Singh general-purpose diet (44±3 days). Pupal weights were greatest for specimens from the Singh general-purpose diet (14.9±0.5 mg) and lowest for those from the pinto bean diet (started as first instar: 12.3±0.6 mg; started as second instar: 12.1±0.4 mg). Pupal weights from cherry bark were intermediate (13.5±0.6 mg). Early mortality, resulting primarily from rejection of the diet, remains to be the critical impediment in CBT rearing. It is therefore suggested that a phagostimulant from cherry bark be identified and included in an artificial diet shown to be nutritionally suitable, such as the Singh general-purpose diet or the pinto bean diet.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Joan E. Cossentine, Ulrich Kuhlmann

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Enarmonia formosana