Artificial Diet for Immatures of Sphenophorus levis Vaurie, 1978 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Based on a Multidimensional Model

Pest attacks, especially by <i>Sphenophorus levis</i>, are a factor affecting sugarcane production. As the pest's life habits make chemical control difficult, efforts are focused on finding integrated management alternatives. It is therefore essential to study the biology of <i>S. levis</i>, using artificial diets for rearing the insect in the laboratory. Artificial diets are commonly used for rearing pest insects, providing specimens year-round even when they are present only seasonally in the field, as is the case with <i>S. levis</i>. However, there is no diet in the literature that provides viable egg-to-adult development for rearing pests in the laboratory. Recently, studies to optimize diets using software with an interactive approach have shown good results in diet development. This study aimed to develop an artificial diet for <i>S. levis</i> using Design-Expert^® software (Version 11) to enable development and viability comparable to insects in the wild. The multivariate approach consisted of initially varying six components of the diet and then varying the three components that most influenced viability and the development rate, providing viabilities of over 60% at the end of the <i>S. levis</i> cycle in both phases of the screening design. However, the physical characteristics of the diet, such as the water content and texture, proved to be preponderant factors for the proper development of the insect and should be considered when using its artificial diet using a suitable container and uncrushed wheat germ.