The larval diet for mass rearing of the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) represents 30% of the total cost of production and generates great amount of solid wastes with high contents of protein due to low consumption by larvae. In order to reduce the costs of production and generation pf solid waste, a texturized diet with pre-gelatinized starch was developed, which in comparison to a standard diet, increased the number of larvae per gram of diet from 4.6 to 5, transformation from egg to larva increased from 60 to 76%, larval weight increased from 29.2 to 29.8 mg, and pupal weight from 18.6 to 19.8 mg. It was determined that the percentage of egg hatch at the time of seeding on the diet affected the yield and the transformation from egg to larva. We found that diets seeded when a minimum egg hatch of 40% is reached gave best results. The optimal amount of diet per tray was found to be of 3.0 kg in a layer of 2.0 cm of depth.

La dieta larvaria para cría masiva de la mosca mexicana de la fruta, Anastrepha ludens (Loew) representa el 30% del costo de producción y genera una gran cantidad de desechos sólidos con alto contenido de proteína como resultado de un bajo aprovechamiento por las larvas. Para reducir los costos de producción y la cantidad de desechos sólidos generados, se desarrolló una dieta texturizada con almidón pre-gelatinizado, con la cual se incrementó la producción en comparación con una dieta estandar de 4.6 a 5 larvas/g de dieta, la transformación de huevo a larva paso de 60 a 76%, los pesos de larva y pupa de 29.2 a 29.8 y de 18.6 a 19.8 mg, respectivamente. Se determinó que el porcentaje de eclosión de huevo al momento de la siembra afecto el rendimiento larvario y la transformación de huevo a larva, estableciéndose una eclosión de huevo óptima de 40% al momento de la siembra. La cantidad óptima de dieta gélica en cada recipiente fue de 3 litros, con una capa de 2.0 cm de espesor.

We evaluated three packing systems (PARC boxes, "GT" screen towers and "MX" screen towers) for the emergence and sexual maturation of sterile fruit flies, at three adult fly densities (1, 1.2 and 1.3 fly/cm²) and three food types. At the lowest density, results showed no significant differences in the longevity and flight ability of adult Anastrepha ludens (Loew) and Anastrepha obliqua Macquart among the three packing systems. Higher densities resulted in a decrease in these parameters. In the evaluation of the three food types, no significant differences were found either on longevity or flight ability of A. ludens. However, the greatest longevity for both sexes A. obliqua was obtained with commercial powdered Mb® and the mix of sugar, protein and corn starch on paper (SPCP) food types. The highest value for flight ability in A. obliqua males was obtained with powdered Mb® and SPCP food types, and for females with Mb® powdered food. Our data indicated that GT and MX screen tower packing systems are an alternative to the PARC boxes, since they were suitable for adult fly sexual maturation without any harm to their longevity or flight ability. The tested foods were equivalent in both fruit fly species, with the exception of the agar type for A. obliqua, which yielded the lowest biological parameters evaluated. Our results contribute to the application of new methods for the packing and release of sterile flies in large-scale programs.