Development ofArchytas marmoratus(Diptera: Tachinidae) Reared inGalleria mellonellaLarvae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Feeding on Selected Diets

Four diets commonly used to rear the greater wax moth,Galleria mellonella(L.), were evaluated for their effects on the development of a harbored tachinid parasitoid,Archytas marmoratusTownsend. A diet developed by E. G. Kinget al.(U.S. Department of Agriculture, Science and Education Administration, Advances in Agricultural Technology, Southern Series No. 3, 1979) was selected for further improvement. Incorporating up to 2 ml of a vitamin mix and up to 30 g of granular sucrose into the Kinget al.diet (≈165 g) had no significant influence on the weight ofG. mellonellalarvae or development ofA. marmoratus.However, as little as 5 g of torula yeast, honeycomb wax, or wheat germ added to the Kinget al.diet or to varying ratios of Gerberʹs Mixed and Hi-Protein cereals increased the weight of matureG. mellonellalarvae and subsequently male and femaleA. marmoratusreared fromG. mellonellahosts. The Kinget al.diet supplemented with torula yeast, honeycomb wax, and wheat germ may be used for mass propagation ofA. marmoratusuntil an artificial diet for itsin vitrorearing is developed.