Ecological and Nutritional Studies on Coleomegilla maculata De Geer (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). I. The Development of an Artificial Diet and a Laboratory Rearing Technique1

Abstract

Sixteen experimental diets were formulated and tested for rearing Coleomegilla maculata. Only one proved to be satisfactory for rearing this coccinellid continuously under laboratory conditions. The basic ingredients of this diet were casein, sucrose, wheat germ, soybean hydrolyzate, glycogen, butter fat, a Liver fraction, corn oil, brewer’s yeast, dextrose, cotton leaf extract (carotenoids and sterols), ascorbic acid, salt mixture, vitamins, antibiotics, agar, and water.