Effect of Diet and Temperature on Development Rates, Survival, and Reproduction of the Indianmeal Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

Developmental rates, egg hatch, survival, adult weight, and reproductive potential were determined for Indianmeal moth, Pladia interpunctella (Hubner), reared on wheat bran diet, almonds, pistachios, and walnuts at four temperatures. Developmental rate and adult weight were highest on bran diet. Developmental rates on almonds and pistachios were similar, although development on almonds was faster at higher temperatures. Developmental rate and survival were lowest on walnuts. At 35°C, no lndianmeal moth completed development on walnuts and developmental rates on all other diets decreased, indicating that the thennal threshold had been surpassed. Diet had no significant effect on reproductive potential of adults reared at temperatures of 25 and 28.3ஐC. At 31.7°C, adults reared on bran diet produced the most progeny; adults reared on walnuts produced the fewest progeny. No progeny resulted from adults reared on any diet at 35°C. Suitability of diet for Indianmeal moth development was correlated with diet moisture content; however, the poor performance of walnuts may have been due to the development of rancidity. The results of this study illustrate the difficulty in developing a model for the diverse conditions that exist in California’s Central Valley.