A CHEMICALLY DEFINED DIET AND AXENIC REARING METHOD FOR LARVAE OF THE SEED–CORN MAGGOT, HYLEMYA CILICRURA (ROND.) (DIPTERA: ANTHOMYIIDAE)

Abstract

Larvae of the seed-corn maggot, Hylemya cilicrura (Rond.), were reared on two chemically defined diets under axenic conditions. The diets consisted of 19 l-amino acids, 9 water-soluble vitamins, coenzyme A, inosine, thymine, ribonucleic acid, glucose, a salt mixture, water, and agar. They contained no plant extracts or unknown growth factors. Eighty-three per cent of the 29 larvae reared axenically on the better diet became adults. The larvae developed approximately half as fast as those reared on pea seedlings.