The impact of a zoophytogenous, insect-free artificial diet and a secondary prey, pupae of Chinese oak silk moth Antheraea pernyi (Guérin-Méneville) (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), on the developmental rate, life history parameters, and fertility was examined for F6, F9, and F12 consecutive generations for domesticated Arma chinensis (Fallou) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae). This study showed that when fed an insect-free artificial diet during both the nymphal and adult stages, developmental times were prolonged, and fecundity, egg viability, net reproductive rates (R₀), and intrinsic rates of increase (r_m) declined. As a result, the cost to rear A. chinensis on the artificial diet approached 1.7 times the cost of rearing A. chinensis on pupae of A. pernyi. Future diet improvements should attempt to reduce developmental time, increase fecundity, and egg viability and use less costly nutrient sources.

The development of artificial diets could considerably simplify and reduce the cost of mass rearing of natural enemies compared to conventional rearing methods. However, improvement of artificial diets can be tedious, convoluted and often uncertain. For accelerating diet development, a better method that can offer informative feedback to target deficiencies in diet improvement is required. Our previous research demonstrated several biological characteristics were diminished in the insect predator, Arma chinensis Fallou, fed on an artificial diet formulated with the aid of transcriptomic methods compared to the Chinese oak silk moth pupae. The present study reports differential proteomic analysis by iTRAQ-PRM, which unravels the molecular mechanism of A. chinensis responding to improvements in the artificial diet. Our study provides multivariate proteomic data and provides comprehensive sequence information in studying A. chinensis. Further, the physiological roles of the differentially expressed proteins and pathways enable us to explain several biological differences between natural prey-fed and improved diet-fed A. chinensis, and subsequent proposed reformulation optimizations to artificial diets.

Mass production of Coenosia attenuata Stein at low cost is very important for their use as a biological control agent. The present study reports the performance of C. attenuata adults when reared on Drosophila melanogaster Meigen or Bradysia impatiens (Johannsem). Different densities (6, 9, 15, 24 and 36 adults per predator) of D. melanogaster or (6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 adults per predator) of B. impatiens were used at 26 ± 1 °C, 14:10 (L:D) and 70 ± 5% RH. The results concluded that C. attenuata adults had higher fecundity, longer longevity and less wing damage when reared on B. impatiens adults compared to D. melanogaster adults. Additionally, C. attenuata adults demonstrated greater difficulty catching and carrying heavier D. melanogaster adults than lighter B. impatiens adults. In this case, 12 to 24 adults of B. impatiens daily per predator were considered optimal prey density in the mass rearing of adult C. attenuata.

Greenhouse cage trials were conducted to evaluate the biocontrol potential of the predatory tiger fly Coenosia attenuata against the Chinese chive maggot Bradysia odoriphaga infesting Allium tuberosum. To ensure that adult C. attenuata have sufficient food when the B. odoriphaga adults decline or are absent, we supplemented the predator with alternative prey (Drosophila melanogaster adults), a banana-based banker medium, and a coir mulch layer across four treatments with three replicates per treatment over 50 weeks. When C. attenuata was released alone (T1), corrected control efficacy against B. odoriphaga larvae ranged from 56.14% to 59.82%. Notably, peak larval suppression was significantly higher in treatments combining the predator with a mulch layer (T2: 94.23%) or with the banker media system (T4: 100%). Against adult stages, T1 achieved 32.68–69.73% corrected efficacy, whereas T2 and T4 reached peak values of 100% and 97.69%, respectively. Predator application also doubled the total cumulative dry weight of Chinese chive. However, the concurrent use of banker medium and mulch layer (T3) did not produce synergistic effects. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that banker media systems and coir mulch layers are effective auxiliary tools for enhancing C. attenuata-based biocontrol in protected cultivation systems.

Greenhouse cage trials were conducted to evaluate the biocontrol potential of the predatory tiger fly Coenosia attenuata against the Chinese chive maggot Bradysia odoriphaga infesting Allium tuberosum. To enhance pest suppression, we supplemented the predator with alternative prey (Drosophila melanogaster adults), a banana‑based banker medium, and a coir mulch layer across four treatments over 50 weeks. When C. attenuata was released alone (T1), corrected control efficacy against B. odoriphaga larvae ranged from 56.14% to 59.82%. Notably, peak larval suppression was significantly higher in treatments combining the predator with mulch layer (T2: 94.23%) or with the banker media system (T4: 100%). Against adult stages, T1 achieved 32.68%–69.73% corrected efficacy, whereas T2 and T4 reached peak values of 100% and 97.69%, respectively. Predator application also doubled the dry weight of Chinese chive. However, the concurrent use of banker medium and mulch layer (T3) did not produce synergistic effects. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that banker media system and coir mulch layers are effective auxiliary tools for enhancing C. attenuata‑based biocontrol in protected cultivation systems.