Semi-artificial bearing of the larvae of Anastrepha obliqua (Diptera : Tephritidae) in Manaus, Amazonas-Brazil

Larvae of the West Indian fruit fly, Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), were su ccessfully reared on a meridic diet of: agar, wheat flour, sucrose, nipagin , antibiotic, sodium benzoate. yeast, water and different amounts from 10 t o 50 pel cent of powdered dehydrated araca-boi (Eugenia stipitata) (Myrtace ae). For each evaluated diet, 100 larvae were reared. Anastrepha obliqua F- 1 were successfully reared. The meridic diets with 20 to 40 percent of powd ered dehydrated araca-boi were observed to provide the optimum growth mediu m for larval development. Under these conditions, 38% of the larvae complet ed development at 26 +/- 1 degrees C, 88 +/- 6% RH, and a photopeliod of 12 :12 (L:D). The average life cycle was 43.3 days (eggs, 4 days, larvae, 26.3 days, pupae, 13 days). These results provide a basis for rearing A. obliqu a in semi-artificial conditions. However more studies are needed to better understand pupal humidity requirements.