Rearing a native cactus moth, Melitara prodenialis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), on artificial diet and Opuntia cladodes: Preliminary comparisons

Authors

  • Oulimathe Paraiso Methods Development & Biological Control, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
  • Trevor Randall Smith Methods Development & Biological Control, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
  • Stephen D. Hight USDA-ARS, Center for Medical Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Tallahassee, FL 32308, USA
  • Bobbie Jo Davis Methods Development & Biological Control, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA

Keywords:

Apanteles opuntiarum, Cactoblastis cactorum, cladodes, developmental abnormalities, mass rearing, nutrient deficiencies, Opuntia

Abstract

This study compared several biological parameters of native cactus moth, Melitara prodenialis, reared on an artificial versus the natural diet of Opuntia spp. cladodes. Results suggest that the current artificial diet developed for mass rearing C. cactorum can provide nutritional value for the rearing of Melitara spp. native cactus moths. Overall, rearing M. prodenialis on the artificial diet was more successful than on Opuntia cladodes and required less time and labor. Mass rearing of M. prodenialis using artificial diet should improve once subsequent generations become adapted to laboratory rearing conditions.

 

Este estudio comparó varios parámetros biológicos de la palomilla nativa del cactus (nopal), Melitara prodenialis, criadas sobre una dieta artificial versus una dieta natural de cladodios de Opuntia spp. Los resultados sugieren que la dieta artificial actual desarrollada para la cría masiva de Cactoblastis cactorum puede proveer valor nutricional para la cría de las polillas Melitara spp. nativas del cactus. En general, la cría de M. prodenialis sobre la dieta artificial tuvo más éxito que las criadas sobre cladodios de Opuntia y requirio menos tiempo y trabajo. La cría masiva de M. prodenialis usando dieta artificial debería mejorar una vez que las generaciones subsiguientes se adapten a las condiciones de cría en el laboratorio.

 

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Issue

Vol. 97, No. 3 (September 2014)

Section

Scientific Notes

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