The effects of essential and non-essential amino acids on the egg production and hatchability of adult Pimpla turionellae L. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

In this study, the effects of essential and non-essential amino acids on the egg production and hatch rate as individual and group were investigated in order to determine the amino acid needs and ratios of the chemically defined synthetic diets that will be used to feed Pimpla turionellae in mass and continuous rearing in artificial environments. The omission of essential amino acids from the diet, either individually or as a group, resulted in a significant decrease in the total number of eggs. While the omission of non-essential amino acids from the diet individually did not significantly change the insect's total number of eggs, the omission of non-essential amino acids as a group from the diet or the fact that the amino acid content of the diet consists of only non-essential amino acids caused a significant decrease in the number of eggs. Isoleucine and phenylalanine were found to be critical essential amino acids affecting egg production of the insect. Although proline is a non-essential amino acid for adult insects, it was concluded that it is an important nutrient component that supports reproduction. Increasing and decreasing the amino acids in the diet by 50% as a group opposite to each other did not significantly affect the number of eggs of the insects. It was determined that the best egg production performance of the insect fed with synthetic diet was between the 12th and 24th days. Omission of essential and non-essential amino acids, either individually or as a group, or their different mix ratios in the diet did not significantly alter the insects' egg hatching rates. Key Words: Pimpla turionellae, Essential and non-essential amino acids, Egg production and hatch.