Meridic diet for Oncopeltus fasciatus (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) and its utilization in evaluating an insect growth regulator

A nw meridic diet based on wheat germ, sunflower seed, and agar was developed for a sunflower-seed strain of the large milkweed bug, O. fasciatus (Dallas). The authors demonstrated that a wheat germ/agar diet, commonly used for insects with chewing mouthparts, can be used to support insects with piercing-sucking mouthparts. Ten consecutive generations of the large milkweed bug were successfully reared on this diet. At the end of the 10th generation, the wheat germ-sunflower seed diet was judged comparable with sunflower seeds in its ability to support growth and development. Females reared on the diet, however, laid fewer eggs. The diet allowed a homogeneous incorporation of xenobiotics such as an insect growth regulator (RO 13-5223, ethyl(2-(p-phenoxyphenoxy)ethyl)carbamate) into a foodstuff. The results indicated that the effects of RO 13-5223 are not are not affected by the digestive processes.