Rearing the Mexican beetle Zygogramma bicolorata (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) on a semi-synthetic diet

A semi-synthetic diet utilising parthenium leaf powder was evaluated for rearing the Mexican beetle Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister under in vitro conditions at 26±1°C, 65% RH. Significant differences were observed in the biological parameters of the beetle viz., the grub survival (54.3%), pupation (47.2%), fecundity (54.6/day) and total developmental period (37.7 days), when reared on the semi-synthetic diet compared to those when reared on natural parthenium leaves (91.5, 85.5, 74.8 and 29.8, respectively). The feasibility of utilising the semi-synthetic diet for mass production of the beetle is discussed.