Life Cycle of P. interpunctella in stored walnuts under controlled enviromental conditions

BARRERA ILLANES, ALBERTO NICOLAS; POPICH, SUSANA BEATRIZ; AJMAT, MARÍA TERESA

Tucumán

Jornada; THIRD JOINT MEETING OF THE BIOLOGY SOCIETIES OF ARGENTINA; 2015

Asociación de Biología de Tucumán

Plodia interpunctella (Lep.: Pyralidae), known as Indian mealmoth, is a pest of stored products of global significance and one of the main factors involved in the decrease in the production of stored nuts in La Rioja. Considering that its life cycle depends on environmental conditions and on the host, the aim of this study was to describe the life cycle of Plodia interpunctella in nuts under environmental conditions similar to those in local nut storehouses.The study of the life cycle of P.interpunctella was performed in a breeding chamber at temperatures of 24 ± 1°C and relative humidity of 55 ± 3%. Eggs were collected and incubated until larval emergence (n=160); larvae were placed in individual containers with nuts as food. The number and duration of the larval stages were determined by the appearance of a new cephalic cap and each instar was characterized based on morphological and behavioral criteria.Pupae were measured and sexed and time of adult emergence was monitored. Adult couples were grouped to control oviposition and hatching. The life cycle of P.interpunctella lasted an average of 71.42 days from egg hatching to adult death. The egg stage lasted 4-5 days with a hatching rate of 73.5%. Six instars with a total development time of 52 ± 2 days were determined. The duration of the pupa stage was 10 ± 1 days and the percentage of eggs laid per female was 132 ± 10. The data obtained provide valuable information for pest management strategies during nut storage.