AN ARTIFICIAL LARVAL DIET FOR REARING OF ANASTREPHA STRIATA (DIPTERA: TEPHRITIDAE)

An artificial larval diet for Anastrepha striata (Schiner) was developed and the changes in the rearing and quality parameters through 6 generations during the adaptation were characterized. In the first experiment we tested diet formulations that had already been developed for the mass-rearing of Anastrepha ludens (Loew), A. obliqua (Macquart),A. serpentina (Wiedemann) and Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) by sowing A. striata eggs (20-40% hatched) in each diet. In those tested diets, the maximum larval recovery percentage was 4.82%. In the second experiment, in the AOII modified diet of A. obliqua, we substituted the protein source, torula yeast by Nutrifly (TM), torula yeast-casein and hydrolyzed protein. A formulated diet contained 4.83% Nutrifly (TM), 15% corn cob fractions, 8.0% corn flour, 8.33% sugar, 0.23% sodium benzoate, 0.11% nipagin, 0.13% citric acid, and 63.37% water allowed higher larval survival compared to diets with different protein sources. In the third experiment, we evaluated adaptation of the larvae to Nutrifly diet. Over 6 generations, the larval and pupal weights and pupation percentage decreased from parental to first generation and increased after the third generation, recovering the initial value. Larval recovery and adult emergence increased from parental generation to the next generations; and was maintained during the next 5 generations. Larval recovery only a light decreased in the third generation. The laboratory colonization of A. striata reared on this artificial diet required at least 5 generations for the larvae to adapt to the artificial diet and increase pupal weight and adult emergence.