Performance of the tiger-fly Coenosia attenuata Stein reared on the alternative prey, Chironomus plumosus (L.) larvae in coir substrate

Authors: ZOU, DEYU - Tianjin Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; Coudron, Thomas; XU, WEIHONG - Tianjin Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; XU, JINGYANG - Tianjin Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; WU, HUIHUI - Tianjin Agricultural University

Submitted to: Phytoparasitica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/4/2020
Publication Date: 11/17/2020
Citation: Zou, D., Coudron, T.A., Xu, W., Xu, J., Wu, H. 2020. Performance of the tiger-fly Coenosia attenuata Stein reared on the alternative prey, Chironomus plumosus (L.) larvae in coir substrate. Phytoparasitica. 49:83-92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-020-00866-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-020-00866-9

Interpretive Summary: Mass production of the greenhouse predatory biological control agent, the tiger-fly, was examined when reared on larvae of buzzer midges and a combination of buzzer midges plus fungus gnats. Biological characteristics such as adult emergence improved for tiger-fly larvae fed on smaller live fungus gnat larvae for the first four days, then live buzzer midge larvae from the fifth day to pupation. When live alternative prey were replaced with frozen prey, the developmental time of tiger fly larvae was prolonged, and adult emergence decreased. The results indicate live buzzer midge larvae can serve as an alternative food source for mass rearing of tiger fly. As an alternative food source, buzzer midge larvae could provid significant improvements for the application of tiger-fly in the greenhouse banker media system and/or open rearing.

Technical Abstract: The performance of the tiger-fly Coenosia attenuata Stein was examined when fed on larvae of the buzzer midge, Chironomus plumosus (Linnaeus), and combination of buzzer midge and fungus gnat, Bradysia impatiens (Johannsen). Significant differences were observed in the developmental time of larvae, body length, and body weight of pupae and adults of C. attenuata in response to species and preservation status of prey but not in response to instar and prey number of C. plumosus. Most biological characteristics except for developmental time of pupae, length of female pupae, survival rate from the 5th day to pupation, and adult emergence improved for tiger-fly larvae fed on live B. impatiens larvae in the first four days and live C. plumosus larvae from the fifth day to pupation compared to those fed on live C. plumosus larvae in all larval stages. When live alternative prey were replaced with the frozen prey, the developmental time of larvae was prolonged, and adult male body length, survival rate from the fifth day to pupation, and the percentages of pupation and adult emergence decreased. The survival rate of larvae in the first 4 days and percentage of pupation improved with decreased alternative prey instar and increased alternative prey number. These results indicate live C. plumosus larvae can serve as an alternative food source for mass rearing of C. attenuata. As an alternative food source, C. plumosus larvae provide significant advancements for the application of tiger-fly in banker media system and/or open rearing.