Abstract

A number of concentrations of PRO-PLEX™, a protein rich food additive, were incorporated into an artificial diet to determine its effect on the predatory beetle,Carcinops pumilio (Erichson). The impact of this host-free artificial diet on developmental time, larval weight, oviposition and mortality was assessed. When C. pumilio is fed on a host-free diet, the total development of egg to adult was prolonged in comparison with those reared on natural diet by an average of 3.95 ± 0.17 days. The number of stadia was not affected by the artificial diet. The increase in weight of both 1^st and 2^nd instar larvae was highly significantly and strongly correlated with the concentration of PRO-PLEX™ in the artificial diet (P < 0.001). Adults fed on the artificial diet laid eggs, but significantly less than on the natural diet (P < 0.05). C. pumilio larvae reared on a natural diet had a significantly faster rate of oviposition, shorter developmental time and lower mortality as compared to those fed on the artificial diet.

Key words: Artificial diet, natural diet, Carcinops pumilio, body weight, developmental time, mortality.