Artificial diets for the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica.

Development of artificial diets was studied for larvae and adults of the al falfa weevil, Hypera postica Gyllenhal. The artificial diets for larvae and adults were used for 3-4 days without replacement, and preserved 2 months without decay at 4 degreesC. The rate of adult emergence reached 14.6% on t he larval diet, but was significantly lower than that of control diet (fres h alfalfa leaf). The adults fed actively and oviposited well on the adult d iet with no significant difference in the number of eggs deposited and thei r hatchability between females on artificial and control diets. We successf ully reared through two generations with the artificial diets for larvae an d adults.