YVETTE MCCULLEY
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Kirn Junior High
Seventh Grade Life Science
mailto:Ymcculley@council-bluffs.k12.ia.us
I am working in Steve Ferkovich's lab which is located in the USDA Labs located on the University of Florida, Gainsville, campus. The current protocol includes methodology for data collection in the area of artificial diet for parasatoid wasps. I am replicating the work using Green Lacewing, which is a more user friendly classroom insect.
"It is now possible to economically raise hundreds of thousands - even millions - of insects to release in fields where they will devour damaging crop pests The research finding that makes this a reality is a recipe for an artificial diet that insects not only survive on but actually thrive.
"This major breakthrough has the potential to greatly expand the use of biological control agents in agriculture while reducing dependence on chemical products."
"A lacewing that is mass-marketed requires a diet of insect eggs that costs more than $300.00 to produce. A new artificial diet can be made for $2.50. This diet consists of eggs and liver...it mimics the actual texture of natural prey."
Senft,Dennis. "Mass-Reared Insects Get Fast-Food," Agricultural Research, June 1997, pp 4-7.
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