Effect of artificial diet on longevity of adult parasitoids of Dendroctonus frontalis (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Seven species of parasitoids of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, were reared from field-collected D. frontalis-infested pine bark and used to test the effect of an artificial diet on parasitoid longevity. Parasitoid adults were provided with water only or water plus the diet, and longevities were recorded and compared. AU parasitoid species fed on the artificial diet, and consumption of diet resulted in significantly increased longevity compared with the water control. Our data provide support for the concept that diet supplements for adult D. frontalis parasitoids could increase parasite-caused mortality of the bark beetle and enhance biological control.