Navon, A., Div. of Entomology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Larvae of the wood borer Zeuzera pyrina L. were reared on a practical diet based on soybean - milk powder - yeast as the nutrient source, and sugar-beet pulp as a binder. This diet improved the yield of adults from neonates and increased the number of matings, compared with an agar - pear-bark diet. The larva-to-adult period on the experimental diets was 3-4 months, which is one-third the period within the tree. Mass rearing of this insect for biological control programs is discussed. © 1977 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.