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Modeling the cost-effectiveness of insect rearing on artificial diets: A test with a tephritid fly used in the sterile insect technique.

ABSTRACT: We modeled the cost-effectiveness of rearing Anastrepha ludens, a major fruit fly pest currently mass reared for sterilization and release in pest control programs implementing the sterile insect technique (SIT). An optimization model was generated by combining response surface models of artificial diet cost savings with models of A. ludens pupation, pupal weight, larval development time and adult emergence as a function of mixtures of yeast, a costly ingredient, with corn flour and corncob fractions in the diet. Our model revealed several yeast-reduced mixtures that could be used to prepare diets that were considerably cheaper than a standard diet used for mass rearing. Models predicted a similar production of insects (pupation and adult emergence), with statistically similar pupal weights and larval development times between yeast-reduced diets and the standard mass rearing diet formulation. Annual savings from using the modified diets could be up to 5.9% of the annual cost of yeast, corn flour and corncob fractions used in the standard diet, representing a potential saving of US $27.45 per ton of diet (US $47,496 in the case of the mean annual production of 1,730.29 tons of artificial diet in the Moscafrut mass rearing facility at Metapa, Chiapas, Mexico). Implementation of the yeast-reduced diet on an experimental scale at mass rearing facilities is still required to confirm the suitability of new mixtures of artificial diet for rearing A. ludens for use in SIT. This should include the examination of critical quality control parameters of flies such as adult flight ability, starvation resistance and male sexual competitiveness across various generations. The method used here could be useful for improving the cost-effectiveness of invertebrate or vertebrate mass rearing diets worldwide.

SUBMITTER: Pascacio-Villafan C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5336270 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Modeling the cost-effectiveness of insect rearing on artificial diets: A test with a tephritid fly used in the sterile insect technique.

Pascacio-Villafán Carlos C Birke Andrea A Williams Trevor T Aluja Martín M

PloS one 20170303 3

We modeled the cost-effectiveness of rearing Anastrepha ludens, a major fruit fly pest currently mass reared for sterilization and release in pest control programs implementing the sterile insect technique (SIT). An optimization model was generated by combining response surface models of artificial diet cost savings with models of A. ludens pupation, pupal weight, larval development time and adult emergence as a function of mixtures of yeast, a costly ingredient, with corn flour and corncob frac ...[more]

PMID: 28257496

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Project description:BackgroundInsect species have established sophisticated symbiotic associations with diverse groups of microorganisms including bacteria which have been shown to affect several aspects of their biology, physiology, ecology and evolution. In addition, recent studies have shown that insect symbionts, including those localized in the gastrointestinal tract, can be exploited for the enhancement of sterile insect technique (SIT) applications against major insect pests such as the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) Ceratitis capitata. We previously showed that Enterobacter sp. AA26 can be used as probiotic supplement in medfly larval diet improving the productivity and accelerating the development of the VIENNA 8 genetic sexing strain (GSS), which is currently used in large scale operational SIT programs worldwide.ResultsEnterobacter sp. AA26 was an adequate nutritional source for C. capitata larvae, comprising an effective substitute for brewer's yeast. Incorporating inactive bacterial cells in the larval diet conferred a number of substantial beneficial effects on medfly biology. The consumption of bacteria-based diet (either as full or partial yeast replacement) resulted in decreased immature stages mortality, accelerated immature development, increased pupal weight, and elongated the survival under stress conditions. Moreover, neither the partial nor the complete replacement of yeast with Enterobacter sp. AA26 had significant impact on adult sex ratio, females' fecundity, adults' flight ability and males' mating competitiveness. The absence of both yeast and Enterobacter sp. AA26 (deprivation of protein source and possible other important nutrients) from the larval diet detrimentally affected the larval development, survival and elongated the immature developmental duration.ConclusionsEnterobacter sp. AA26 dry biomass can fully replace the brewer's yeast as a protein source in medfly larval diet without any effect on the productivity and the biological quality of reared medfly of VIENNA 8 GSS as assessed by the FAO/IAEA/USDA standard quality control tests. We discuss this finding in the context of mass-rearing and SIT applications.

Project description:Mallada basalis (Walker) has the potential to be a valuable biological control agent because of its predatory abilities, strong reproductive capacity, and broad prey range. This study aimed to improve on a previously used artificial diet for M. basalis, to achieve a longer oviposition period and greater survival rate and fecundity. We analyzed the development, survival, longevity, and reproduction of M. basalis (F1 and F2 generations) fed two artificial diets (AD1 and AD2). Both diets contained chicken egg yolk, beer yeast powder, honey, trehalose, seawater spirulina, and potassium sorbate. AD1 also contained sucrose and vitamin C. The duration of F1 1st larvae, F1 2nd larvae, F1 pupae, F2 egg, and F2 2nd larvae reared on AD1 were significantly shorter than those reared on AD2. F1 adult longevity and F2 oviposition period for AD1 (45.40 d and 31.00 d) were significantly longer than for AD2 (30.74 d and 20.80 d). All the following were significantly greater for AD1 compared with AD2: F1 female proportion, F1 daily oviposition, F1 female oviposition, F2 daily oviposition, F2 female oviposition, F1 emergence rate, F2 pupation rate, and F3 egg hatching rate. Moreover, for M. basalis fed AD2, the duration of F2 2nd and 3rd larvae (9.00 d and 8.64 d) were significantly longer than for F1 (4.70 d and 4.92 d). The F1 oviposition period (31.57 d) was significantly longer than F2 (20.80 d). The F2 female oviposition (189.20 egg/female) was significantly less than F1 (307.14 egg/female). We found that the oviposition period and female longevity of F1 reared on AD1 was longer than that reared on the artificial diet in a previous study. The daily oviposition and female oviposition of F1 from AD1 was larger, while the F2 egg hatching rate was greater compared with that from the previous diet. However, the offspring of M. basalis fed AD2 were less thrifty. We found diet AD1 supported development and reproduction better than AD2 and the diets in our previous study. These findings may contribute to the mass rearing of this economically important predatory green lacewing.

Project description:BackgroundWith the fight against malaria reportedly stalling there is an urgent demand for alternative and sustainable control measures. As the sterile insect technique (SIT) edges closer to becoming a viable complementary tool in mosquito control, it will be necessary to find standardized techniques of assessing male quality throughout the production system and post-irradiation handling. Flight ability is known to be a direct marker of insect quality. A new version of the reference International Atomic Energy Agency/Food and Agricultural Organization (IAEA/FAO) flight test device (FTD), modified to measure the flight ability and in turn quality of male Anopheles arabiensis within a 2-h period via a series of verification experiments is presented.MethodsAnopheles arabiensis juveniles were mass reared in a rack and tray system. 7500 male pupae were sexed under a stereomicroscope (2500 per treatment). Stress treatments included irradiation (with 50, 90, 120 or 160 Gy, using a Gammacell 220), chilling (at 0, 4, 8 and 10 °C) and compaction weight (5, 15, 25, and 50 g). Controls did not undergo any stress treatment. Three days post-emergence, adult males were subjected to either chilling or compaction (or were previously irradiated at pupal stage), after which two repeats (100 males) from each treatment and control group were placed in a FTD to measure flight ability. Additionally, one male was caged with 10 virgin females for 4 days to assess mating capacity (five repeats). Survival was monitored daily for a period of 15 days on remaining adults (two repeats).ResultsFlight ability results accurately predicted male quality following irradiation, with the first significant difference occurring at an irradiation dose of 90 Gy, a result which was reflected in both survival and insemination rates. A weight of 5 g or more significantly reduced flight ability and insemination rate, with survival appearing less sensitive and not significantly impacted until a weight of 15 g was imposed. Flight ability was significantly reduced after treatments at 4 °C with the insemination rate more sensitive to chilling with survival again less sensitive (8 and 0 °C, respectively).ConclusionsThe reported results conclude that the output of a short flight ability test, adapted from the previously tested Aedes FTD, is an accurate indicator of male mosquito quality and could be a useful tool for the development of the SIT against An. arabiensis.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Producing high quality sterile males is vital in Aedes aegypti rear-and-release birth control strategies. Larval diets, rearing temperatures, and their interactions determine the accumulation rates of essential nutrients in larvae, but these factors have been understudied in relation to mass-rearing techniques for producing eminent males. METHODS:We compared the effects of two larval diets, a cereal-legume-based diet (Khan's diet) and a standard larval diet developed in the FAO/IAEA Insect Pest Control Laboratory (IAEA 2 diet). Diets were tested at selected temperatures for both larval and male adult life history traits, adult extreme temperature tolerance, and mating capacity relative to energy reserves of reared male adult Ae. aegypti. RESULTS:Khan's diet resulted in shorter immature development time at each test temperature (except for 25 °C) than an IAEA 2 diet. Larvae reared at 28 °C and 32 °C with Khan's diet demonstrated low pupation rates (c.80%). We accounted for these phenomena as secondary sex ratio manipulation, because a higher proportion of male adults emerged at 28 °C and 32 °C than that for the IAEA 2 diet. In general, the pupal development time shortened as temperature increased, resulting in higher teneral energy reserves in male mosquitoes. High energy reserves allowed male mosquitoes reared with Khan's diet to have higher adult longevity (5-6 days longer when sugar-fed and 2-3 days longer when water-fed) and tolerance of heat stress than those fed on the IAEA 2 diet. The IAEA 2 diet produced larger male mosquitoes than Khan's diet did: mosquitoes fed on Khan's diet were 1.03-1.05 times smaller than those fed on the IAEA 2 diet at 28 °C and 32 °C. No evidence indicated reduced mating capacity for small mosquitoes fed on Khan's diet. CONCLUSIONS:Larvae reared at 28 °C and 32 °C with Khan's diet were characterized by shorter immature development time compared with those fed on the IAEA 2 diet. Adult mosquitoes produced from that larval rearing condition exhibited a significant male bias, long lifespan, and better endurance against extreme temperatures relative to energy reserves. Thus, the larval diet at rearing temperature of 28 °C and 32 °C optimized rearing techniques for the sterile insect programmes. However, mating competitiveness and flight performance of adult males require further investigation.

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Modeling the cost-effectiveness of insect rearing on artificial diets: A test with a tephritid fly used in the sterile insect technique.

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Modeling the cost-effectiveness of insect rearing on artificial diets: A test with a tephritid fly used in the sterile insect technique.

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