Two meridic diets for Perillus bioculatus (Heteroptera : Pentatomidae), a predator of Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae)

Two artificial diets, devoid of insect components, were developed for the p redator Perillus bioculatus (Fabricius). The diets based on chicken liver a nd tuna fish were designed to approach the nutritional characteristics of t he primary insect prey, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) eggs. P. bioculatus was reared on diet 2 for 11 consecutive generations without cumulative det rimental effects on its biology. Developmental time and preovipositional pe riod were significantly longer, and egg viability, survival from egg to adu lt, and fecundity were significantly lower in P, bioculatus individuals rea red on artificial diets than in those reared on L. decemlineata eggs. A sig nificant reduction in developmental time, increase in survival from egg to adult, and reduction in length of the preovipositional period were observed after 11 generations of in vitro reared P. bioculatus on diet 2. These cha nges may indicate that the predators experience some degree of adaptation t o the diet after several consecutive generations of in vitro rearing. No ch anges in egg viability were observed after 11 generations of in vitro reari ng. Adult female weight tvas unaffected when reared on artificial diet, but a significant increase was observed after II generations of in vitro reari ng. Females under all treatments weighed an average of 11.6 mg more than th e males.