A meat-based diet for rearing the predatory stinkbugsPodisus maculiventris andPodisus sagitta [Het.: Pentatomidae]

A diet based on bovine meat was evaluated as an alternative food source for rearing the predatory bugsPodisus maculiventris (Say) andPodisus sagitta (Fabricius). Thus far, 7 and 5 continuous generations of the respective species have been reared on this diet. In comparison to rearing on larvae of the greater wax moth,Galleria mellonella (L.), however, nymphal development was prolonged with 15–40% and adult weights were lower, reaching 72–82% of the control weights. Fecundity of females reared on the meat diet was reduced to about 1/3–1/2 of that of the control, but egg weight and egg fertility were comparable with those in cultures fed live prey. Results obtained for laboratory rearing on this medium were generally better forP. maculiventris than forP. sagitta.