Artificial rearing of Dicyphus tamaninii (Heteroptera: Miridae) on a meat-based diet

An artificial rearing method based on a meat diet for the zoophytophagous mirid bug Dicyphus tamaninii Wagner (Heteroptera: Miridae), a, polyphagous predator from the Mediterranean basin, was evaluated. More than five continuous generations were completed on this food source without any plant material. Dental cotton rolls were used as an oviposition substrate. When meat-reared insects of the fifth generation were compared with conventionally reared individuals (on tobacco plants with moth eggs as prey), they had a significantly higher egg and nymphal survival, a smaller size, and a delay in immature development time. The method is an important improvement in the rearing of this predator because the need for insect prey and a living plant is avoided. (C) 2001 Academic Press.