Artificial Diet for Immatures of <i>Sphenophorus levis</i> Vaurie, 1978 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Based on a Multidimensional Model

Pest attacks, especially by <i>Sphenophorus levis</i>, are a factor affecting sugarcane production. As the pest’s life habits make chemical control difficult, efforts are focused on finding integrated management alternatives. It is therefore essential to study the biology of <i>S....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Luana Viana Faria, Tamara Akemi Takahashi, Adriano Gomes Garcia, José Roberto Postali Parra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/12/944
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846104312035409920
author Luana Viana Faria
Tamara Akemi Takahashi
Adriano Gomes Garcia
José Roberto Postali Parra
author_facet Luana Viana Faria
Tamara Akemi Takahashi
Adriano Gomes Garcia
José Roberto Postali Parra
author_sort Luana Viana Faria
collection DOAJ
description Pest attacks, especially by <i>Sphenophorus levis</i>, are a factor affecting sugarcane production. As the pest’s life habits make chemical control difficult, efforts are focused on finding integrated management alternatives. It is therefore essential to study the biology of <i>S. levis</i>, using artificial diets for rearing the insect in the laboratory. Artificial diets are commonly used for rearing pest insects, providing specimens year-round even when they are present only seasonally in the field, as is the case with <i>S. levis</i>. However, there is no diet in the literature that provides viable egg-to-adult development for rearing pests in the laboratory. Recently, studies to optimize diets using software with an interactive approach have shown good results in diet development. This study aimed to develop an artificial diet for <i>S. levis</i> using Design-Expert<sup>®</sup> software (Version 11) to enable development and viability comparable to insects in the wild. The multivariate approach consisted of initially varying six components of the diet and then varying the three components that most influenced viability and the development rate, providing viabilities of over 60% at the end of the <i>S. levis</i> cycle in both phases of the screening design. However, the physical characteristics of the diet, such as the water content and texture, proved to be preponderant factors for the proper development of the insect and should be considered when using its artificial diet using a suitable container and uncrushed wheat germ.
format Article
id doaj-art-bcc09f3f2da84bafb6b8585a04fe7c41
institution Kabale University
issn 2075-4450
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Insects
spelling doaj-art-bcc09f3f2da84bafb6b8585a04fe7c412024-12-27T14:31:15ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502024-11-01151294410.3390/insects15120944Artificial Diet for Immatures of <i>Sphenophorus levis</i> Vaurie, 1978 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Based on a Multidimensional ModelLuana Viana Faria0Tamara Akemi Takahashi1Adriano Gomes Garcia2José Roberto Postali Parra3Department of Entomology and Acarology, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (USP), 11 Av. Pádua Dias, Piracicaba 13418-900, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Entomology and Acarology, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (USP), 11 Av. Pádua Dias, Piracicaba 13418-900, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Entomology and Acarology, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (USP), 11 Av. Pádua Dias, Piracicaba 13418-900, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Entomology and Acarology, “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo (USP), 11 Av. Pádua Dias, Piracicaba 13418-900, São Paulo, BrazilPest attacks, especially by <i>Sphenophorus levis</i>, are a factor affecting sugarcane production. As the pest’s life habits make chemical control difficult, efforts are focused on finding integrated management alternatives. It is therefore essential to study the biology of <i>S. levis</i>, using artificial diets for rearing the insect in the laboratory. Artificial diets are commonly used for rearing pest insects, providing specimens year-round even when they are present only seasonally in the field, as is the case with <i>S. levis</i>. However, there is no diet in the literature that provides viable egg-to-adult development for rearing pests in the laboratory. Recently, studies to optimize diets using software with an interactive approach have shown good results in diet development. This study aimed to develop an artificial diet for <i>S. levis</i> using Design-Expert<sup>®</sup> software (Version 11) to enable development and viability comparable to insects in the wild. The multivariate approach consisted of initially varying six components of the diet and then varying the three components that most influenced viability and the development rate, providing viabilities of over 60% at the end of the <i>S. levis</i> cycle in both phases of the screening design. However, the physical characteristics of the diet, such as the water content and texture, proved to be preponderant factors for the proper development of the insect and should be considered when using its artificial diet using a suitable container and uncrushed wheat germ.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/12/944sugarcane weevilDesign-Expert<sup>®</sup>fecunditysugarcane
spellingShingle Luana Viana Faria
Tamara Akemi Takahashi
Adriano Gomes Garcia
José Roberto Postali Parra
Artificial Diet for Immatures of <i>Sphenophorus levis</i> Vaurie, 1978 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Based on a Multidimensional Model
Insects
sugarcane weevil
Design-Expert<sup>®</sup>
fecundity
sugarcane
title Artificial Diet for Immatures of <i>Sphenophorus levis</i> Vaurie, 1978 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Based on a Multidimensional Model
title_full Artificial Diet for Immatures of <i>Sphenophorus levis</i> Vaurie, 1978 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Based on a Multidimensional Model
title_fullStr Artificial Diet for Immatures of <i>Sphenophorus levis</i> Vaurie, 1978 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Based on a Multidimensional Model
title_full_unstemmed Artificial Diet for Immatures of <i>Sphenophorus levis</i> Vaurie, 1978 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Based on a Multidimensional Model
title_short Artificial Diet for Immatures of <i>Sphenophorus levis</i> Vaurie, 1978 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Based on a Multidimensional Model
title_sort artificial diet for immatures of i sphenophorus levis i vaurie 1978 coleoptera curculionidae based on a multidimensional model
topic sugarcane weevil
Design-Expert<sup>®</sup>
fecundity
sugarcane
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/12/944
work_keys_str_mv AT luanavianafaria artificialdietforimmaturesofisphenophoruslevisivaurie1978coleopteracurculionidaebasedonamultidimensionalmodel
AT tamaraakemitakahashi artificialdietforimmaturesofisphenophoruslevisivaurie1978coleopteracurculionidaebasedonamultidimensionalmodel
AT adrianogomesgarcia artificialdietforimmaturesofisphenophoruslevisivaurie1978coleopteracurculionidaebasedonamultidimensionalmodel
AT joserobertopostaliparra artificialdietforimmaturesofisphenophoruslevisivaurie1978coleopteracurculionidaebasedonamultidimensionalmodel