IN-VITRO CULTURE OF TRICHOGRAMMA SPP ON ARTIFICIAL DIETS CONTAINING YEAST EXTRACT AND ULTRACENTRIFUGED CHICKEN EGG-YOLK BUT DEVOID OF INSECT COMPONENTS

Trichogramma minutum Riley and Trichogramma brassicae Bezdenko (Hymeno ptera: Trichogrammatidae) were cultured in vitro from eggs to adults o n artificial diets, which contained no insect components. The diets co ntained ultracentrifuged chicken egg yolk, milk, Grace's insect medium , and yeast extract. The most important components were the yeast extr act and ultracentrifuged chicken egg yolk. Addition of the sediment of ultracentrifuged chicken egg yolk to a diet containing yeast extract enhanced yield of pupae 2.2-fold and of adults 2.7-fold, Based on numb ers of first instars and pupae, respectively, the best diet produced 9 4% pupae and 28% adults of T. minutum.