Agency:

Agricultural Research Service

November 10, 1998

The invention involves an artificial diet to mass rear beneficial insects, or entomophages. Entomophages are predatory arthropods and parasitic insects used as biological controls. However, large scale use of beneficial insects has been limited because production involves the rearing of the insect’s host or prey at considerable cost. The invention involves an artificial medium or mixture which mimics the structural constituents, texture and consistency of the natural prey insides. The growth medium of the invention has a solid/semi-solid form which is more convenient to use, and costs about $6.00 per kilogram. For Sitotroga eggs (the host of Chrysoperla species) the current cost is about $500.00 per kilogram.

Allen C. Cohen

Western Cotton Research Laboratory

Phoenix, AZ 85040-8830

(602) 379-3524 / fax:(602) 379-4509

Industry Keywords:

environment, biotechnology, parasite, predator, pesticide, biological control, insect, IPM, larvae, lacewings, Heteroptera