The life‐history of the Indian meal‐moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lep. Phycitidae) in a warehouse in Britain and on different foods
1964; Wiley; Volume: 53; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/j.1744-7348.1964.tb07259.x
ISSN1744-7348
Autores Tópico(s)Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
ResumoSUMMARY In a population of Plodia interpunctella living on 4 tons of bagged American maize stored in a Nissen hut, fewer adults than expected emerged in the spring, as many pupae were killed by high temperatures close to the roof. In spite of this, a population of approximately eighteen adults gave rise 3 months later to 643 larvae. There were indications that the life cycle might be completed in 9 weeks, as a second generation of adults started to emerge within this period. Larvae preferred bags stacked flat to those stacked upright. They tended to occur in the upper parts of stacks, to spin their cocoons in the necks of bags and to remain in their existing sites without showing any indication of migrating. Of four food materials tested in laboratory studies, no. 3 N. Manitoba Tough wheat induced quickest development, followed by sultanas, American yellow corn and almonds. Of four types of wheat, Australian was more suitable than no. I N. Manitoba or U.S. Northern Spring; English wheat was the least suitable. Milo (N. American sorghum) was as good as no. I N. Manitoba and U.S. Northern Spring wheats, and Plate maize was comparable to English wheat. Groundnuts were less satisfactory and maize meal gave poorer results than any other food. The main period of emergence of adults was short on those foods which induced the most rapid development but prolonged on those on which the development period was longer. The life cycle was unusually long in a proportion of individuals which were reared on American yellow corn, no. I N. Manitoba wheat and almonds. In these examples the fully grown larvae underwent a long period of rest within the cocoon, suggesting a facultative diapause. Mortality of pre‐adult stages appeared to be higher when the period of development was longer.
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