Fitness of Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) reared in an artificial diet

The Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an economically important pest of corn. Finding simple, cheap, and suitable rearing techniques of O. furnacalis is an urgent need to support research for management of this insect. This research aimed to determine the suitability of a read bean and rice bran-based artificial diet used for mass rearing of this insect since 2009.The tested artificial diet was compared with the natural diet (sweet corn kernel) and each diet was tested in individual rearing method (one larva in each vial). The criteria used to justify the quality of diet and mass rearing procedure were based on the fitness of O. furnacalis. The degree of fitness was based on life history, growth, and development. In general, the fitness parameteres observed from O. furnacalis reared in the artificial diet at 25.7?±?1.6?°C with 57.7?±?3.8% RH, and L12:D12 were similar than those in the natural diet.Therefore, the existing artificial diet and rearing procedure were considered suitable and qualified for O. furnacalis. It is important to periodically check the laboratory colony to ensure that they have similar fitness to those found in the natural population.