Effect of particle size of soft wheat flour on the development of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

a b s t r a c tThe effect of soft wheat flours, characterized by different particle size, protein and starch content, on the development of Ephestia kuehniella was studied. The attractiveness of the substrata to first and third instar larvae was also considered.The different protein content of the flours did not significantly affect the development of E. kuehniella, nor did it affect the ability of the flours to attract larvae. In tests with soft wheat flours with the same nutritional value but different particle size, the highest mean number of adults and the shortest developmental period were recorded on samples with greatest particle size (250-419 mm).In order to test the attractiveness of soft wheat flour to larvae, a one-way olfactometer was used. There were no significant differences observed in the number of first and third instar larvae found on flours with different protein composition and particle size. Larvae of this species show limited mobility, in fact few individuals of either instar can reach the flour from a distance of 2 m. No larvae of either instar contacted the different substrata from a distance of 2.5 m.

Effect of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Larval Diet on Egg Quality and Parasitism by Trichogramma brassicae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

“…Ephestia kuehniella were reared successfully for multiple generations on a standard, reduced, or minimal larval diet; however, the immatures developed fastest on the standard diet, the female pupae had the greatest mass, and more adults emerged. Previously, larvae reared on durum wheat flour compared to soft wheat flour also had a shorter development time and the adults produced more progeny (Locatelli et al 2008). This was attributed to a higher protein content and quantity of water-soluble and lipo-soluble vitamins in the durum wheat flour-based diet.…”

“…tends to be expensive and labor-intensive (Wang et al 2014). However, the Mediterranean flour moth can be reared on simple and inexpensive diets, such as wheat flour and many other foods (Stein and Parra 1987, Rodriguez-Menendez et al 1988, Magrini et al 1995, Filho et al 2001, Ci et al 2005, Locatelli et al 2008). In an attempt to reduce the cost of host production, larvae of the rice moth have been reared on relatively inexpensive cereals, such as finger millet, Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn; soft white wheat, Triticum aestivum L.; short-grained white rice, Oryza sativa L.; and durra sorghum, Sorghum bicolor L. (Nathan et al 2006).…”

Modelling heat-disinfestation of dried fruits on “biological model” larvae Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller)

“…The recently hatched eggs were shipped to Montpellier's laboratory (France) in sealed containers under controlled conditions (15°C at 75% relative humidity). The E. kuehniella larvae were reared on hard wheat semolina (Locatelli, Limonta, & Stampini, 2008). Throughout the experiments, the insect cultures were maintained at a constant temperature (25 ± 1°C), a 14L:10D photoperiod and a 65 ± 5% relative humidity (Jacob & Cox, 1977).…”

Can environmental dust from silo area allow the development of stored product insects?

“…Almost half (49.7%) of the particle size in semolina is between 212 μm and 354 μm; dust, collected at 7.5 and 15 m height, consists of particle sizes less than 106 μm (79.10% and 62.69%, respectively). Locatelli et al (2008) observed that the particle size of soft wheat flours influences both the adult emergence percentage and the mean development time of E. kuehniella.…”