Importance of Nutritional and Physical Characteristics of Diets

Importance of Nutritional and Physical Characteristics of Diets for Mass Rearing Screwworm & Pink Bollworm Norman C. Leppla, Muhammad F. Chaudhury & Fred D. Stewart University of Florida and USDA

New World Screwworm Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Screwworm Life Cycle Adults Eggs on wound Pupae in ground Larvae in wound

Myiasis in Livestock

Screwworm Larval Media Nutria Whale

Screwworm “Factories” Mission Tuxtla Gutierrez

Water Feeder Mixer Ingredient Feeder Diet preparation

Pumping diet into trays

Tray with larval diet

Larvae falling from trays

Screwworm pupae

Cotton Linter Rearing System

Composition of Larval Diet Spray-dried bovine blood Spray-dried egg Milk substitute Gelling agent (or 6% Cellulose) Water (or 79. 9% with cellulose) Formalin 6% 4% 4% 2% 83. 9% 0. 1%

Spray Dried Whole Bovine Blood l Protein l Fat l Ash l Fiber l Moisture 85% 1% 4. 5% 1% 6%

Egg Powder l Protein 50 -58% l Fat 25 -30% l Moisture 5% or less l Cholesterol trace l Vitamins A, B 1, 2, 6, 12, D, E, Folate, Biotin l Minerals Na, K, Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Cu, Cl, I, Zn

Milk Powder Substitute Protein 20 g Fat 28 g Carbohydrate 42 g Moisture 3 g Ash 3 g Total Vitamins ~1 g A, B 1, B 2, B 3, B 6, B 12, Biotin C, D, E, Folate, Pantothenic acid Minerals ~2. 5 g Calcium, Copper, Iodine, Iron Magnesium, Phosphorous Potassium, Sodium, Zinc

Physical Characteristics Role of gelling agent (or cellulose fiber) - Provide texture and matrix to diet - Gel polymer is not bio-degradable - Cellulose is biodegradable l Importance of viscosity - Larval mobility and growth - Proper functioning of equipment l Importance of p. H - p. H change occurs during feeding - Feeding not effected between 6. 8 & 5. 5 l

Pink Bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Pink Bollworm Life Cycle

Pink Bollworm Rearing Facility

Diet Preparation

Diet Extrusion

Larval Development and Cutout

Collection of Pupae

Larval Diet Composition l Wheat germ l Sugar l Soy flour l Yeast l Anti-microbials (3) l Vitamins(8) l Choline chloride l Red dye

Successful Diet Characteristics l Stimulate l Contain and enable feeding essential nutrients l Organize ingredients in a matrix l Nutrients biologically available

Successful Diet Characteristics • Chemically stable & clean • Eliminate anti-nutrients • Easy to prepare • Easy to discard (biodegradable) • Provides a “happy” home

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