An artificial diet for aphidophagous syrphids, Episyrphus balteatus (de Geer) and Eupeodes bucculatus (Rondani) (Diptera: Syrphidae) using drone honeybee brood powder

We reared two aphidophagous syrphid species, Episyrphus balteatus and Eupeodes bucculatus, on artificial diets throughout all larval stages but their development was inferior to those feeding on natural prey (aphids). Drone honeybee brood powder (DP) offered the minimum nutrition necessary for larval development in both species. E. balteatus grew to adulthood on the original DP diet, but E. bucculatus did not. An agar-get diet containing DP improved the survival rate of E. bucculatus and half the larvae on this diet reached adulthood. Diet softness was a very important physical factor for rearing syrphid larvae. The amount of food consumed by third-instar larvae of E. bucculatus was measured. The results showed sufficient intake of DP by the larvae. The addition of autolyzed yeast and sucrose to the diet improved larval development.