Formosan Entomologist (2008) 28, 183-193

Wen-Yung Liu, Shae-Jinn Lee and Wei-Lung Wang (2008)
[Studies on breeding techniques of Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) taiwana (Shiraki) (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)]
Formosan Entomologist 28 (3-4), 183-193
Abstract: Different substrates were tested for their suitability to grow Forcipomyia (Lasiohelea) taiwana (Shiraki) larvae. It was first found that an agar-based substrate was the most suitable for the biting midge. The developmental time for larvae reared on an agar-based substrate was only 9.4 days. The survival rate of larvae, larvae developing to adults and pupae was 96%, 93% and 97%, respectively. Experiments on the ovipositional preferences of female adults of F. taiwana showed that female adults deposited the largest number of eggs on the agar-based substrate, indicating that the agar-based substrate is an excellent material for breeding midge larvae. The developmental time for F. taiwana larvae feeding on five different algae was as follows: Anabaena sp., 10.0 days; Scenedesmus sp., 8.4 days; Chlorella sp., 8.9 days; Fischerella sp., 13.1 days; and Oscillatoria sp., 18.2 days, respectively. For those larvae that were fed Fischerella sp., and Oscillatoria sp., the pupal durations were the longest. The survival rate for larvae feeding on Scenedesmus sp. and Anabaena sp. was 94% and 91%, respectively, and the survival, rate for the pupae was 78% and 89%, respectively. It was .found that F. taiwana bred on any of these five different algae could all complete the larval and pupal development. Based on the developmental time and the survival rate for this biting midge, Scenedesmus sp. was the best one of the algae tested. However, in terms of the oviposition, the female midges laid the most eggs on Anabaena sp. and Fischerella sp. among five kinds of algae.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Chinese)

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.
	Forcipomyia taiwana