Southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella, performance on three artificial diets

Abstract

Southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella, performance was compared on wheat germ, bean and CSM diets by determining larval stage duration, pupal weights, fecundity, percent egg hatch, female moth longevity and the number of spermataphores per female moth. Pupal weights, fecundity, and percent egg hatch were significantly higher on bean and CSM diets than on wheat germ diet. Other parameter measurements were nearly the same for all diets. The results indicate the potential value of bean diet and CSM diet in southwestern corn borer rearing programs.