Semi-solid meridic diets for rearing two related species of Pentatomidae, Nezara viridula and N. antennata, were developed. For N. viridula, development times from second nymphal stadium to adult were 27.6 to 28.2 d for females and 26.8 to 27.5 d for males reared on the meridic diets at 25°C. The nymphal survival rate of N. viridula on the diets was more than 87%. Body weight at adult emergence ranged from 157.6 to 160.1 mg for females and from 123.1 to 128.3 mg for males. The pre-oviposition period was 20.8 to 25.8 d at 25°C when fed on the meridic diets, longer than when fed on peanut and soybean seeds. Fecundity and egg hatchability of the bugs fed on the meridic diets were almost the same as those for bugs fed on seeds. Casein was the only ingredient of the meridic diets essential for nymphal development of N. viridula. Nymphal duration of N. antennata fed on the meridic diet was 31.1 d for females and 29.2 d for males at 25°C, not much different from those fed on seeds. The pre-oviposition period of N. antennata fed on the meridic diet was 23.3 d at 25°C.
The bean bug, which is a harmful pest of soybeans in Japan, can be reared on artificial solid diet and water. The best diet which is composed of soybean casein, a mixture of 19 amino acids, starch, saccharose, cellulose powder, salt mixture, cholesterol, ascorbic acid and a combination of 9 vitamines, supported the growth and development of the insect from the egg to the adult stage as in the case of soybeans. When one of the nutrients such as starch, casein, mixture of amino acids or cholesterol was omitted from the basal diet, adverse effects appeared on the growth and development, and no adults were obtained. The growth of nymphs reared on the diet which did not include cellulose, saccharose, ascorbic acid or vitamin mixture, was retarded although a few adults appeared.No difference in nymphal growth and development was noted when these were reared on the diet without salt mixture.
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