Technology Description:

The invention is an improved artificial diet for rearing Catolaccus grandis, a parasite of the cotton boll weevil. The growth medium may be used for mass propagation of C. grandis from eggs to adult for their subsequent release for biological control, as well as to support the growth of adult female wasps of C. grandis as breeding stock for continued mass rearing. The invention comprises amino acid, mineral, vitamin, lipid and carbohydrate fractions which are present in amounts and proportions effective to support C. grandis growth. The invention is an effective environmental alternative to petrochemical pesticides.

Please refer to USPN 5,899,168, which issued on May 4, 1999.

Inventors:

Maria Guadalupe Rojas Biological Control of Pests Research Jamie Whitten Delta States Res. Center 141 Experiment Station Road Stoneville, MS  38776 (662) 686-3070 / Fax: (662) 686-5281 grojas@msa-stoneville.ars.usda.gov

Juan Alfredo Morales-Ramos (Same as first inventor) (662) 686-3069 / Fax: (662) 686-5281 jmorales@ars.usda.gov