Improving the artificial diet for adult of seven spotted ladybird beetleCoccinella septempunctataL. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) with orthogonal design

Abstract

In this study, an orthogonal array design with 16 factors at two levels (216) was performed to develop an artificial diet rearing the adults of seven spotted ladybird beetle Coccinella septempunctata. The parameters of weight gain and survival rate of adults, preoviposition period, fecundity and hatching rate of diet-fed adults were monitored. The 16 factors were included: pork liver, infant formula, sucrose, olive oil, yolk, corn oil, yeast powder, cholesterol, casein, casein hydrolysate, vitamin powder, 65% juvenile hormone III, protein powder, vitamin E, honey and pumpkin. Results indicated that pork liver, sucrose, yolk, yeast powder, juvenile hormone, pumpkin and honey were the main ingredients of the artificial diet contributing to weight gain and survival rate of adults, preoviposition period, fecundity and hatching rate. A follow-up fed with a selection of improved formulas confirmed the validity of the optimization as predicted by the orthogonal array analysis, indicating the usefulness of this method for selecting artificial diets for C. septempunctata. The weight gain and fecundity of adults reared on the improved artificial diet were 87.46 and 62.70% of those reared on Aphis craccivora; the survival rate and hatch rate were similar between the diet-fed and aphid-fed, while the preoviposition period was significantly shorter for C. septempunctata fed on the diet than on A. craccivora. The latter formula was superior to any formerly developed formulas and may thus have potential for the improved artificial diet mass rearing of C. septempunctata.

The Effect of Different Dietary Sugars on the Development and Fecundity of Harmonia axyridis

“…In large-scale insect propagation, feeding aphid diets in captivity is an expensive and time-consuming method (Bonte et al, 2010). Therefore, it is necessary to develop artificial diets that H. axyridis can be supplemented with, in order to achieve the low-cost and continuous expansion of this insect that will facilitate the effective control of pests (Cheng et al, 2018). In response to this problem, various artificial insect diets have been exploited and proposed (Cohen, 2001;Castane and Zapata, 2005).…”

Effects of artificial diet on the biological characteristics of the ladybeetle Coccinella septempunctata

“…This is similar to the results reported by Cheng et al . (2018). All these phenomena showed that the four artificial feeds could not meet the growth and development needs of the larvae.…”

“…Another study in China used an orthogonal design and included 16 selected factors tested at two levels, which was carried out to improve the artificial diet of C. septempunctata adult, weight gain, and fecundity of adults reared on this diet were respectively 87.46% and 62.70% of those reared on Aphis craccivora (Cheng et al . 2018). However, these artificial feeds have certain adverse effects on emergence rate, oviposition rate, hatch rate, etc ., in ladybirds.…”

“…In recent years, nearly 100 formulas have been trialed, but the problem of low oviposition rate and hatch rate has not been well solved (Ashraf et al 2010;Doddamani et al 2018;Puysseleyr et al 2014;Racioppi et al 1981;Rojas et al 2016;Sarwar 2010;Sighinolfi et al 2008;Silva et al 2013;Venkatesan et al 1998;Zou et al 2013). Another study in China used an orthogonal design and included 16 selected factors tested at two levels, which was carried out to improve the artificial diet of C. septempunctata adult, weight gain, and fecundity of adults reared on this diet were respectively 87.46% and 62.70% of those reared on Aphis craccivora (Cheng et al 2018). However, these artificial feeds have certain adverse effects on emergence rate, oviposition rate, hatch rate, etc., in ladybirds.…”

Search for Nutritional Fitness Traits in a Biological Pest Control Agent Harmonia axyridis Using Comparative Transcriptomics

“…One goal in mass insect rearing is to use cost-effective artificial diets. Cheng et al (2017) found that the artificial diet for adults was superior to any previously developed formulas and might thus have potential for improving the artificial diet used for the mass rearing of Chrysopa septempunctata . These studies reveal that nutrient addition is beneficial to the metabolism and optimization of the artificial diet and thus affects the physiology and reproduction of H. axyridis .…”