In vitro rearing of Bracon mellitor and Catolaccus grandis with artificial diets devoid of insect components

Abstract Bracon mellitor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and Catolaccus grandis Burks (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), ectoparasitoids of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, were reared in vitro for the first time on artificial diets devoid of insect components. The duration of the life cycles from egg to adult when these parasitoids were reared in vivo on boll weevil larvae, on semi‐artificial diets retained with cotton fabric pads, or on diets with low agar concentrations (0.7%) were ca. 15.5, 16.5, and 15.0 days, for B. mellitor and 16.0, 17.5, and 15.5 days, respectively, for C. grandis. Percent adult emergence obtained with the same treatments was 58, 25, and 65 percent, for B. mellitor and 50, 28, and 60 percent, respectively, for C. grandis. Adult morphological characteristics and mating appeared normal. Male to female sex ratios were ca. 45:55 for both species.