Rearing of Oriental Fruit Flies1: a Need for Wheat Germ in Larval Diet Containing Bagasse, a Non-Nutritive Bulking Agent2

Abstract

When powdered sugarcane bagasse was substituted for wheat shorts in the larval diet of the oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae), satisfactory development of larvae (compared with the Hawaii standard diet) was obtained only when the yeast level was increased from 3–9% and when at least 3% wheat germ was added. Insufficient wheat germ caused decreasing of yields of pupae and eggs in each of 3 successive generations. Fecundity and fertility were increased by adding wheat germ oil to the enzymatic protein hydrolysate of yeast in the adult diet.