Analysing Life Cycle Stages of Indian Meal Moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) on Four Different Diets

Abstract

The life cycle stages of Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (H) was studied on four different diets: whole maize flour, whole wheat flour, breadfruit flour and a formulated diet, under ambient laboratory conditions of 28±2^oC and 75±5% R.H. The proximate composition of the diets, oviposition, larva instar stages, and the complete developmental duration from egg to adult of the moth were examined on the four different diets. The result showed that the percentage protein value of the formulated diet was significantly higher (14.58) than other diets. The oviposition of the moth on the diets ranges between 1-3 days and about 70% of the eggs laid were on the first day of oviposition in all the diets. The highest number of eggs laid was observed on moths reared on maize flour. Incubation of eggs examined on the diets ranges from 3-4 days. Also, there were variations in the number of larva instar stages in the four diets. The formulated diet recorded the lowest period of pupation (6.33 days) and the total developmental average period (23.50days). The study clearly showed that the formulated diet is suitable for rearing P.  interpunctella under laboratory conditions.

Keywords: formulated; incubation; instar; oviposition; pupation.