ARTIFICIAL DIET AND METHOD USING AN ARTIFICIAL DIET, FOR MASS REARING OF INSECTS

A diet for mass rearing of insects that feed on hard, woody plant tissue, e.g., beetles including weevils that feed on hard, woody plant tissue, comprises a homogeneous mixture of first portion which is subjected to sterilization in an autoclave comprising water , agar and salt mix and optionally also yeast extract, casein and a sugar, and of a second portion which is not subjected to sterilization in an autoclave which comprises host plant part fed on by inse ct larvae, vitamin mix, and antimicrobial agent(s). A method for mass rearing of insects that feed o n hard, woody plant tissue, e.g., weevils, e.g., Hylobius transversovittatus or Cyphocleonas achates Fahraeus, comprises placing first instar insect larvae on an artificial diet comprisin g ground host plant part, incubating the larvae on the diet in darkness at a temperature ranging from 15 to 30.degree.C and a relative humidity ranging from 50 to 90%, and retrieving adults as they emerge.