Fecundity and egg hatchability of Dastarcus helophoroides adults fed on different types of artificial diets

Abstract

Both fecundities and egg hatchabilities were compared among three populations of Dastarcus helophoroides Fairmaire adults (Coleoptera: Bothrideridae) fed on three types of artificial diets (Diet of formula 1 composed of silkworm pupa powder, dried yeast powder, sucrose, peptone, egg yolk powder and poplar branch powder. Diet of formula 2 composed of silkworm pupa powder, dried yeast powder, sucrose, egg yolk powder, poplar branch powder, cricket powder, benzoic acid and distilled water. Diet of formula 3 composed of pine bark powder and Monochamus alternatus larva powder). for 90 days. The three diets showed no significant difference regarding the average number of eggs deposited by all D. helophoroides females (16622.3–23874.7); the average number of eggs per female (1278.6–1836.5); and the average number of eggs per female per day (14.2–20.4). The number of eggs one cluster contained mainly (82.06–82.66 %) lied in 1–100 eggs, and the average number of eggs per cluster ranged from 61.7 to 63.1. In the first 10-day period, the number of eggs deposited by all females fed on formula 1 was significantly larger than that on formula 3. The eggs deposited in the last four 10-day periods were more than in the former five 10-day periods, on formula 3. There were no significant differences in hatchability of total eggs among the three artificial diets, and the average corrected egg hatchability ranged from 82.85 to 84.78 %. No significant differences in the adult mortality and mean weight gain of D. helophoroides were found after feeding on three artificial diets. Our results suggest that D. helophoroides adults were not specialized on the diet, and the diet types might have little effect on fecundity and egg hatchability in D. helophoroides, as long as sufficient nutrition was supplied.