Location: Biological Control of Pests Research
Project Number: 6066-22000-086-001-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2014
End Date: Aug 31, 2019
Objective:
To develop and optimize a mass rearing system for Nezara (N.) viridula and Piezodorus (P.) guildinii, based on colloidal artificial diets to produce sufficient adult insects to maintain a constant production of approximately 15,000 eggs per week at reasonable costs and the identification of biological proteins with potential utility in developing plants resistant to N. viridula and P. guildinii.
Approach:
Development of mass rearing systems using colloidal artificial diets, designed to resemble different plant hosts, will involve detailed chemical analyses of the plants by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography (GC), Mass Spectrometry (MS), and Spectrophotometry. Based on the analysis chemically defined artificial diets will be prepared. Nezara (N.) viridula and Piezodorus (P.) guildinii, fed on the artificial diet formulations will be evaluated against N. viridula and P. guildinii reared on natural food sources, under controlled environmental conditions. Artificial diet formulations will be evaluated by measure of comparison of biological parameters such as developmental time, immature survival, sex ratio, fecundity, egg viability and longevity. Once an acceptable colloidal formulation is identified biological proteins from cotton, soybean, and corn will be incorporated in the formulation and surviving adults will be evaluated for longevity, food consumption, and egg production. Development of the artificial diet based mass rearing systems will involve the optimization of mass production, dispensing, and egg collection. Improve mass rearing systems of Lygus lineolaris and Lygus hesperus on artificial diets (carniovurs and colloidal diets) with or without plant material. Improve mass rearing systems of Neotropical brown and red banded stink bugs on artificial diets (carnivores and colloidal diets) with or without plant material.
