Effect of nutritional stress and larval crowding on survival development and reproductive output of Mediterranean flour moth <i>Ephestia kuehniella</i> Zeller

Abstract

Eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth (MFM) are widely used for rearing biocontrol agents Understanding how nutritional stress and larval crowding affect MFM fitness is essential to the development of an optimal production programme Such knowledge could also help lead to novel management strategies because it is an important storage pest The development survival and reproductive output of MFM under five densities (50 100 200 400 and 800 larvae reared on 50 g of diet) were examined As larval density increased the larval developmental period significantly increased from 278 to 337 days and the larval survival rate and resulting females fecundity significantly decreased from 776 to 476 and 3268 to 1326 eggs respectively (P<00001) There was no significant difference in fertility survival pupation and emergence rates between densities of 50 100 and 200 larvae Therefore the optimal rearing density could be up to 200 larvae on 50 g of diet