Rearing of the colydiid beetle predator, Dastarcus helophoroides, on artificial diet

Artificial diets for the colydiid beetle, Dastarcus helophoroides, a predator of cerambycid beetles and xylocopid bees, were evaluated. Hatched larvae were reared on artificial diets composed of silkworm pupa-powder, dry yeasts, yeast extract, sucrose, peptone, squid liver oil, preservatives and distilled water, but their emergence rate was very low. If larvae were fed paralyzed cerambycid larvae till they became approximately 8 mm in body length and then reared on artificial diet, emergence rates were high. Using the latter method, mass-production of this colydiid beetle is feasible.