Effect of Food Source on the Life Cycle of the Indian Flour Moth, Plodia interpunctella

Abstract

The impact of different food sources (figs, raisins, dates, pistachio peel and artificial food) on the life cycle of the Indian flour moth insect Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was investigated. The results obtained showed that the egg laying period was 4.58 days without significant difference among the different food sources. The average hatching rate was 90.60%, again without significant differences among the food sources. The artificial food produced significantly the shortest larval stage period of 29.75 days compared to other food sources. The pupal stage was 10.75 days long without significant difference among the different food sources. The average adult’s age was 11.25 days and the average number of eggs laid by females was 113.80 eggs without a significant difference among food sources. The full generation period averaged 44.67 days, and was shortest with the artificial diet (39.62 days), outperforming raisins and pistachio shells, which exhibited the longest generation period of 46.50 and 51.25 days, respectively.

Keywords:

Plodia interpunetella Hubner, storage pests, life cycle.