U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Biological Control of Pests Research: Stoneville, MS
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Southeast Area Stoneville, Mississippi Biological Control of Pests Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Morales Ramos, Juanitem
                                            Rojas, Maria

                                                         - *Guadalupe*item
                                            Shapiro Ilan, Daviditem
                                            TEDDERS, WILLIAM - Southeastern Insectaries, Inc
  Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 6/22/2011
                                    Publication  Date: 7/1/2011
                                    Citation: Morales Ramos, J.A., Rojas, M.G., Shapiro Ilan, D.I., Tedders, W.L. 2011. Self-selection of two diet components by Tennebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) larvae and its impact on fitness. Environmental Entomology. 40(50): 1285-1294.Interpretive Summary: Our efforts to improve the mass rearing capabilities of the yellow mealworm led us to study the ability of these insects to self-select food items according to their nutritional requirements. This ability has been demonstrated in other insects, which have been shown to consume individual diet components in ratios consistent with the optimal for growth and development. The results of our study confirmed that the yellow mealworm possesses this ability. This is an important advancement for the improvement of diets that would increase the growth of this insect and therefore the mass production capabilities. This knowledge will be useful for the existing mealworm producing industry, which currently supplies mealworms as feed for captive and wild birds and other pet animals. The results will also support our current efforts to utilize mealworms to mass produce biological control agents such as insect infecting nematodes.
                                Technical Abstract: We studied the ability of Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to self-select optimal ratios of two dietary components to approach nutritional balance and maximum fitness. Life table analysis was used to determine the fitness of T. molitor developing in diet mixtures comprised of four different ratios of wheat bran to dry potato flakes (9:1, 4:1, 7:3, and 3:2 = 10, 20, 30, and 40% potato, respectively). The four diet mixtures were compared to each other and a control diet of wheat bran only. In a separate experiment, relative consumption of the two diet components was determined among the four diet mixtures. Doubling time was significantly higher in groups consuming 9:1 and 4:1 diet mix ratios than the control and lower in groups feeding on 7:3 and 3:2 diet mix ratios. Consumption of individual diet components by T. molitor larvae deviated significantly from the expected ratios indicating non-random consumption. Mean percentages of dry potato consumed were 11.98, 19.16, 19.02, and 19.27% during the first 4wk and 11.89, 20.48, 24.67, and 25.97% during the next 3 wk period for diets with 10, 20, 30, and 40% potato, respectively. The self-selected ratios of the two diet components approached 4:1, which was the second best ratio for population growth. However, the shortest development time was observed at this ratio (4:1). Our findings fulfill the criteria for evidencing dietary self-selection behavior in T. molitor larvae. These findings may lead to new methods for optimizing dietary supplements for mass production of T. molitor.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov