Abstract
The development of immature tiger-fly Coenosia attenuata (Stein) was examined when reared in coir substrate and fed third-instar larvae of the fungus gnat Bradysia impatiens (Johannsen). Single larvae of C. attenuata were fed 3, 5, 7 and 9 prey per day and two larvae were fed 6, 10, 14 and 18 prey per day. Optimal prey density was determined for larval developmental rate, time to adult eclosion, larval survival, and percentage of pupation. Other biological characteristics, such as pupal weight, pupal length, and adult body length, continued to increase with an increase in prey density. The use of coir for a rearing substrate resulted in a more efficient use of prey, less cannibalism, and improved developmental time, and survival than previously reported when agarose gel or a mixture of soil and coir were used for rearing substrates. These improvements in rearing methods are significant advancements for the use of C. attenuata as a biological control agent against whiteflies, leaf miners, fungus gnats and winged-aphids. Additionally, coir substrate serves as a mulch layer when fungus gnats are controlled with C. attenuata, such as Bradysia odoriphaga (Yang et Zhang) in Chinese chive, and B. impatiens in potted ornamental plants.
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