The present exploratory investigation examined the physical and chemical feeding requirements of Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier). Larvae which normally feed within kernels accepted nutritionally adequate test diets compacted into gelatine capsules. A nutritional bioassay was developed based on larval growth and adult emergence. Various combinations of natural products were tested as dietary media. Of those tested, a modified Haydak medium in which corn meal, whole wheat flour, yeast, hone), and glycerol were the essential components, was found to be best. Further experiments designed to formulate more refined diets proved reasonably successful, and the most satisfactory relined diet contained corn starch, casein, glycerol, and yeast as its major components. Although the insect developed on this medium, the overall results were not comparable to those obtained with the best diets of natural products. The future of mass-rearing this species on artificial diets and its nutritional chemistry are discussed.