The Effects of Dietary Carbohydrate on Larval Development and Lipogenesis in the Parasite, Exeristes roborator (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

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Abstract
Dietary carbohydrate was necessary for larval development of the parasitic wasp, E. roborator, reared on fatty acid-free artificial media containing 6% free amino acids. Larvae reared on carbohydrate-free diets showed 50% mortality but a level of 2% glucose, fructose or sucrose resulted in > 80% of the insects completing larval development. Development time decreased with increasing dietary carbohydrate level. Accompanying these effects on development were increases in total body weight brought about by increased lipid and protein levels. The lipid concentration of larvae reared on carbohydrate-free diets was only 1/4 that of larvae reared on diets containing 8% carbohydrate, and the concentration in insects reared on 6% carbohydrate diets was not significantly different from that of host-reared larvae. The total lipids were composed largely of phospholipid, sterol and triglyceride. The relative level of the latter increased from 10% in insects reared on diets lacking carbohydrate to 50% in those reared in diets containing 6% carbohydrate.

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