EVALUATION OF ARTIFICIAL DIETS AND 2 SPECIES OF NATURAL PREY AS LABORATORY FOOD FOR CHILOCORUS SPP

Promising diets were screened and the most successful modified with ad ditives used in artificial diets for other entomophagous insects. Two suitable diets were obtained, one for adults and one for larvae of Chi locorus nigritus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). They were st ill inferior to natural prey and not adequate as the sole food source for rearing consecutive generations. They are valuable as substitute f ood in the insectary during shortages of natural prey. Oleander scale Aspidiotus nerii Bouche and Asterolecanium miliaris (Boisduval) were e valuated as natural prey for C. nigritus and two other potential bioco ntrol agents in southern Africa, C. bipustulatus (Linnaeus) and C. inf ernalis Mulsant. A. nerii and A. miliaris were suitable for all life s tages of C. nigritus and adults of C. bipustulatus and C. infernalis. A. miliaris was inadequate for larvae of C. bipustulatus and C. infern alis.