Effect of temperature and diet on Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) development with special reference to Isomegalen diagram and accumulated degree days

Abstract

Immature development times of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella were studied in the laboratory at four different constant temperatures (20, 23, 25, 27°C) reared on a standard diet (D1) and chocolate (D2). The minimal duration of development from oviposition to adult emergence was inversely related to temperature, ranging from 2.3±0.36 days to 50.5±0.5 days for D1 and from 36.7±0.53 days to 106.73±1.10 days for D2 for 27°C and 20°C, respectively. The minimum development threshold (tL), obtained from linear regression model of the development rates at the four studied constant temperature regimes, for total immature development is 15.3°C and 17.1°C for D1 and D2, respectively and the accumulated degree days (ADD) for P. interpunctella is 249.51°C for D1 and 358.4°C for D2 above the threshold.

First record of the Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) at a research station in Antarctica

“…The life cycle of P. interpunctella is directly influenced by temperature. Under experimental conditions, optimal larval development and adult reproduction occur at between 20°C and 27°C (Defilippo et al 2019). The minimum temperature threshold for development ranges from 16°C to 20°C, depending on diet, rearing conditions and geographical origin of the populations (Johnson et al 1992, Mohandass et al 2007, Defilippo et al 2019).…”

“…Under experimental conditions, optimal larval development and adult reproduction occur at between 20°C and 27°C (Defilippo et al 2019). The minimum temperature threshold for development ranges from 16°C to 20°C, depending on diet, rearing conditions and geographical origin of the populations (Johnson et al 1992, Mohandass et al 2007, Defilippo et al 2019). The insect can enter diapause, normally during the fifth larval instar, triggered by a combination of reducing photoperiod and temperature (Tzanakakis 1959).…”

“…One of the most concerning threats to Antarctic ecosystems and biodiversity, as is the case globally (Pyšek et al 2020), is the introduction through anthropogenic assistance of new species (potentially including some providing new ecological functions) that may be able to become established in the region, with unknown and unpredicted consequences for the native biota (Frenot et al 2005, Amesbury et al 2017, Robinson et al 2018, Convey & Peck 2019. Many examples of this already exist in the sub-Antarctic, with increasing numbers of records becoming available from the Maritime Antarctic (Frenot et al 2005, Hughes et al 2015. Some of these were clearly able to become established in parts of Antarctica under pre-warming or current conditions, but the predicted continued warming is likely to act in synergy with increasing levels of human activity to increase the risks of both transfer events and successful establishment (Convey & Peck 2019).…”

“…One of the most concerning threats to Antarctic ecosystems and biodiversity, as is the case globally (Pyšek et al 2020), is the introduction through anthropogenic assistance of new species (potentially including some providing new ecological functions) that may be able to become established in the region, with unknown and unpredicted consequences for the native biota (Frenot et al 2005, Amesbury et al 2017, Robinson et al 2018, Convey & Peck 2019. Many examples of this already exist in the sub-Antarctic, with increasing numbers of records becoming available from the Maritime Antarctic (Frenot et al 2005, Hughes et al 2015.…”