THREE METHODS FOR THE IN VITRO CULTURE OF TRICHOGRAMMA PRETIOSUM RILEY

Three methods, which are more efficient than previously reported techniques, are described for in vitro production of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley in numbers ranging from a few to thousands. Several antibiotics with concentrations as high as 0.5% were not toxic to the parasitoids, reduced microbial growth, and permitted the successful rearing to the pupal stage of T. pretiosum on artificial diet composed of insect hemolymph, egg yolk, and milk. The likelihood that Trichogramma can be mass produced efficiently in vitro has been significantly increased, but it is essential that the cost and nutritional quality of the artificial diet be significantly improved.