Development of reduced cost diets for the mass rearing of false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta)

BACKGROUND Four trials were conducted; the first established optimal cooking time for false codling moth diets using a microwave oven while the other three trials aimed at determining nutrient requirements, testing these, and evaluating alternative cheaper raw materials. RESULTS Microwave preparation for 8 min, using a 1000 W microwave oven was found to be the optimal cooking time for all treatment diets at 200 g kg−1 moisture. The minimum specification (MS) diet yielded more larvae per jar (mean ± standard deviation) (759 ± 29) than the control (CON) (652 ± 32) diet and the ideal amino acid profile (IAAP) diet (596 ± 46). The third trial subsequently utilized diets formulated according to the MS diet nutrient specifications but using novel and cheaper raw materials (D1 and D2). Production characteristics of diets D1 and D2 was compared to that of CON. Diets D1 and D2 yielded more larvae per jar (D1 = 911 ± 40; D2 = 830 ± 40) than that of CON (428 ± 40) with the added advantage that the newly formulated diets were cheaper. CONCLUSION Reduced cost feeds were formulated, mixed and tested which resulted in substantial saving in the mass rearing of the species for integrated pest management. This method shows potential for diet development of other insect species as well. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry