ARTIFICIAL SUBSTRATE FOR FEEDING AND BREE DING OF IPS-TYPOGRAPHUS L (COL SCOLYTIDAE)

On 8 different diets the longevity, mortality and the feeding behaviou r of Ips typographus adults were investigated. The diets differed in t he base (agar or gelatin) and the water content. Diets on gelatin base showed the wanted consistency but were clearly unfavorable compared w ith diets agar base, due to a higher rate of fungal contamination and a sticky property. Generally the mortality on agar diets was lower tha n on gelatin diets and the control. Based on a mixture of 4 % agar, 16 % ground bark and 79.9 % water a diet was developed by modification o r substitution of different bark compounds. Compared with the rates of development of the beetles this diet was rather similar with the bark slices as a control. The whole period of development from the egg to the young adult took place on the same diet dishes, so that a removal of the animals was not necessary. Beetles reared on the diet did not d iffer in weight or morphologically from that reared on the bark slices and were capable of flying. The mortality rate to young adults was 41 %.