ANALISIS QUIMICO DE LA NUEVA DIETA MERIDICA PARA HYPOTHENEMUS HAMPEI (FERRARI) (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE), CON NOTAS BIOLOGICAS DE SU DESARROLLO EN ESTE SUBSTRATO

摘要

A chemical analysis of a new meridic diet developed to rear the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) was performed. The fresh diet contains 81.3% water and a pH of 6.5. Taking into account only the dry weight of the diet, total carbohydrates and proteins were the major components, with 69.2% and 23.6%, respectively. The meridic diet contents nine out of ten amino acids considered essential for insect growth. Under laboratory conditions of 26 +- 2℃, 60-80% RH and total darkness, egg-laying started 8 days after the diet was inoculated with adult insects. Adults of the first generation were detected from 28 days onwards. The data shows that a single vial with 5ml of diet is able to support more than 100 individuals, and up to three continuous generations can be obtained in 91-97 days. The production of adults and immature stages of the coffee berry borer from diet has been successfully used to rear three species of African parasitoids introduced into Mexico. This fact could eventually lead to mass rearing natural enemies in order to use them in augmentative biological control programs against H. hampei.