BioControl (2000) 45, 401-413

S.M. Ferkovich, J. Shapiro and J. Carpenter (2000)
Growth of a pupal ectoparasitoid, Diapetimorpha introita, on an artificial diet: stimulation of growth rate by a lipid extract from host pupae
BioControl 45 (4), 401-413
Abstract: An artificial diet used to rear the ectoparasitoid, Diapetimorpha introita, was supplemented with lipids extracted from pupae of the host, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). The diet also was sequentially supplemented with four fatty acids (arachidonic, linoleic, gamma-linolenic and oleic), flax oil and Lipid Concentrate^® which is used in cell culture. Pupae were homogenized and extracted with chloroform: methanol (2:1 v/v) and after drying down the chloroform and methanol phases separately, the residues from each solvent phase were evaluated in the artificial diet. Growth-promoting activity was observed in the chloroform phase containing lipids. Diet supplemented with lipid stored at -80 °C, and insects reared on diet with fresh 1× and 2× extracts developed significantly faster than those reared on the artificial diet but slower than those reared on host pupae. The fresh 1× and the 2× extracts also enhanced the average weight of the males and females, respectively. Storing the lipids at -20 °C resulted in a loss of activity. A lipid extract from Galleria mellonella pupae increased the average weight of male and females but did not increase their developmental rate. Adult emergence was not improved by any of the dietary additives. None of the commercial lipid treatments significantly reduced developmental time; however, the gamma-linolenicacid-supplemented diet significantly increased the average weight of females. TLC analyses of the lipid extract from S. frugiperda revealed lipids representing four classes of neutral lipids in the extract: triolein, cholesterol, diacylglycerol, andphospholipid. Data from this study indicate that optimization and successful utilization of an artificial diet to rear D. introita depends on identification of host factors required by theparasitic for growth and development.
(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): Stephen M. Ferkovich

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
rearing/culturing/mass production

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Spodoptera frugiperda
Diapetimorpha introita (parasitoid)	Spodoptera frugiperda