Artificial diet development for mass rearing and its effect on the reproduction of yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée)

Yellow peach moth, Conogethes punctiferalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a very destructive fruit borer in Eastern Asia and Australia. A successful artificial diet and rearing protocol are urgently needed for its biological control and research. In this study, we developed and assessed four artificial diets: AD‐1, AD‐2, AD‐3 and AD‐4, for rearing yellow peach moth larvae. AD‐1 is effective supplements, leading to the larval survival rate of 82.05%, percentage of pupation 79.48%, mean pupa weight of 76.53 mg, emergence rate of 95.25%, and an adult fecundity rate of 121 eggs/female. Using it to feed can shorten the whole generation developmental period to 33 days. Based on this diet AD‐1, we also develop a suitable mass rearing method. During the larval stages providing three‐ to four‐time fresh diet can keep a healthy larval colony.