Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Insect Behavior and Biocontrol Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #306959
Title: Rearing a native cactus moth, Melitara prodenialis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), on artificial diet and Opuntia cladodes: Preliminary comparisons

Author
item PARAISO, OULIMATHE - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item SMITH, TREVOR - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item Hight, Stephen
item DAVIS, BOBBIE - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2014
Publication Date: 9/1/2014
Citation: Paraiso, O., Smith, T., Hight, S.D., Davis, B.J. 2014. Rearing a native cactus moth, Melitara prodenialis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), on artificial diet and Opuntia cladodes: Preliminary comparisons. Florida Entomologist. 97(3):1232-1236.

Interpretive Summary: A biological control program has been initiated in Florida against the invasive Argentine cactus moth. Studies are being conducted in a Florida quarantine facility to insure that native insects will not be harmed by natural enemies from Argentina. Scientists with USDA Agricultural Research Service and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are studying ways to rear the southeastern U.S. native blue cactus moth so it can be used in host range tests. Rearing of the blue cactus moth was tested on an artificial diet versus the natural diet of whole prickly pear pads. Overall, rearing on the artificial diet was more successful and required less time and labor. Mass rearing of the native moth using artificial diet should improve over time as subsequent moth generations become adapted to laboratory rearing conditions.

Technical 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.