Artificial Diet and Rearing Methods for the Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) Biological Control Agent Oxyops vitiosa (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The laboratory colonies of the melaleuca herbivore O. vitiosa that were established on plants and those produced on artificial diets yielded a surplus of insects that were released at M. quinquenervia infested sites throughout south Florida. In the laboratory, we were able to rear O. vitiosa from egg hatch through to pupation on artificial diets modified with host plant tissues. The weight gain and development rate of the artificial diet-reared insects was slightly lower but comparable to that of insects fed M. quinquenervia leaves.