OPTIMIZATION OF THE ARTIFICIAL NUTRITIONAL DIET FOR THE LARVAE OF BRACON-HEBETOR (HYMENOPTERA, BRACONIDAE)

Data of biochemical analysis of the hemolymph of Heliothis armigera H. and Galleria mellonella L. larvae were used to evaluate nutritional requirements of larvae of their ectoparasitoid Bracon hebetor in the main nutritional substances, The search for optimal artificial diet recipes containing no hemolymph and homogenates but including cheap biomass of the bacteria Acinetobacter calcoaceticus as the main component was carried out using methods of mathematical planning of the experiment in combination with entomological tests. Developed artificial diets make it possible to breed the ectoparasitoid from the 2-nd instar till pupa obtaining no less than 80% of normal adults.