production of these wasps. Initial efforts on mass rearing of Trichogramma in Iran,
were conducted at 1981 by Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection and Iranian
Research Organization for Science and Technology. Two factitious hosts were used
in this regards. Limited efforts also have been done by artificial diets (Attaran and
Dadpour-Moganlou 2011). Several hosts such as Mediterranean flour moth,
Anagasta kuehniella Zeller, angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella Olivier,
rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton, Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella
Hübner and greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella Linneaus are examined for
rearing of Trichogramma spp. (Shojai 1987). Angoumois grain moth, S. cerealella
eggs were used for mass-rearing of various Trichogramma species in Iran (Vaez
2007). For host rearing purpose, barley seeds are fumigated by Aluminum phosphide, washed and dried in room air. Then they are infested to the moth eggs
(4 g S. cereallella eggs for 3 kg barley). The larvae penetrate into the seeds and
develop for 7–10 days depending on temperature and relative humidity. Adults are
transferred to funnels as soon as they begin to fly within containers. Both sides of the
funnel are covered with cloth net (50 mesh) to prevent adults to escape. The funnel is
inversely put on a piece of white paper. Adults lay their eggs on paper sheets where
are harvested every day. Then the harvested eggs are exposed to female parasitoids.
This moth usually is grown on barley, but it may grow on other cereals as well.
The barley variety can affect the quality of the produced moths, but it does not take
into account in Trichogramma mass rearing systems because suitable varieties are
not easily accessible for producers and they have to use the existing varieties that
sometimes are very inappropriate (Vaez 2007). There are major defects in host
rearing in insectaries. The average efficiency of S. cerealella production in Iran is
about 4–5 g Sitotroga eggs per 1 g introduced to production system (Attaran and
Dadpour-Moganlou 2011). This is so, while a female can lay 100–150 eggs during
her life (Behdad 1996). A minor increase in efficiency from 5 to 6 will cause to a
considerable saving in costs in a specified period. Indeed, price of produced agents is
major limiting factor in biological control programs.
Additional to the barley varieties, seed size and problems arose by infestation of
barley seeds to Sitotroga larvae, there are serious problems in preparation of the
moth eggs. Brushing method, lace texture and the mesh size, the surface on which
funnels are settled, the duration of the egg harvesting, moth density and physical
conditions are factors affecting the egg production rate. Storage condition and
duration of egg storage can affect the production’s efficiency. Eggs of different
ages often are pooled and kept in refrigerator for subsequent use. Such pooling
strategy and bulking the harvested eggs (that reduces egg quality), poor storage
conditions, inappropriate ventilation and fault of insectaries are the factors that affect
Trichogramma production (Attaran and Dadpour-Moganlou 2011). Many
manufacturing units in Iran are without the required standards. In a mass-rearing
system all requirements cannot be met together. On the other hand, economic and
cultural aspects and governmental support policy have caused the producer fails to
achieve the required standards. These are true for mass rearing of Sitotroga, but it
can be extended for A. kuehniella as well. The mass production system of
A. kuehniella is more efficient than S. cereallella and eggs can be produced by a
206
S. Iranipour and N. Vaez
were conducted at 1981 by Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection and Iranian
Research Organization for Science and Technology. Two factitious hosts were used
in this regards. Limited efforts also have been done by artificial diets (Attaran and
Dadpour-Moganlou 2011). Several hosts such as Mediterranean flour moth,
Anagasta kuehniella Zeller, angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella Olivier,
rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton, Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella
Hübner and greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella Linneaus are examined for
rearing of Trichogramma spp. (Shojai 1987). Angoumois grain moth, S. cerealella
eggs were used for mass-rearing of various Trichogramma species in Iran (Vaez
2007). For host rearing purpose, barley seeds are fumigated by Aluminum phosphide, washed and dried in room air. Then they are infested to the moth eggs
(4 g S. cereallella eggs for 3 kg barley). The larvae penetrate into the seeds and
develop for 7–10 days depending on temperature and relative humidity. Adults are
transferred to funnels as soon as they begin to fly within containers. Both sides of the
funnel are covered with cloth net (50 mesh) to prevent adults to escape. The funnel is
inversely put on a piece of white paper. Adults lay their eggs on paper sheets where
are harvested every day. Then the harvested eggs are exposed to female parasitoids.
This moth usually is grown on barley, but it may grow on other cereals as well.
The barley variety can affect the quality of the produced moths, but it does not take
into account in Trichogramma mass rearing systems because suitable varieties are
not easily accessible for producers and they have to use the existing varieties that
sometimes are very inappropriate (Vaez 2007). There are major defects in host
rearing in insectaries. The average efficiency of S. cerealella production in Iran is
about 4–5 g Sitotroga eggs per 1 g introduced to production system (Attaran and
Dadpour-Moganlou 2011). This is so, while a female can lay 100–150 eggs during
her life (Behdad 1996). A minor increase in efficiency from 5 to 6 will cause to a
considerable saving in costs in a specified period. Indeed, price of produced agents is
major limiting factor in biological control programs.
Additional to the barley varieties, seed size and problems arose by infestation of
barley seeds to Sitotroga larvae, there are serious problems in preparation of the
moth eggs. Brushing method, lace texture and the mesh size, the surface on which
funnels are settled, the duration of the egg harvesting, moth density and physical
conditions are factors affecting the egg production rate. Storage condition and
duration of egg storage can affect the production’s efficiency. Eggs of different
ages often are pooled and kept in refrigerator for subsequent use. Such pooling
strategy and bulking the harvested eggs (that reduces egg quality), poor storage
conditions, inappropriate ventilation and fault of insectaries are the factors that affect
Trichogramma production (Attaran and Dadpour-Moganlou 2011). Many
manufacturing units in Iran are without the required standards. In a mass-rearing
system all requirements cannot be met together. On the other hand, economic and
cultural aspects and governmental support policy have caused the producer fails to
achieve the required standards. These are true for mass rearing of Sitotroga, but it
can be extended for A. kuehniella as well. The mass production system of
A. kuehniella is more efficient than S. cereallella and eggs can be produced by a
206
S. Iranipour and N. Vaez