Effect of flour and pasta debris on larval development of Rhyzopertha dominica

The development of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) larvae on different types of flour and on pasta debris was evaluated under laboratory condition. Tests were carried out on wheat flour, semolina, wheat bran, corn meal, corn starch, rice flour, buckwheat flour, chickpea flour, almond flour, chestnut flour, potato starch, and pasta debris. Two layers of flour or pasta debris, 3 and 6 mm high, were placed in Petri dishes and 20 first instar larvae were put into the middle of the substrate. Four replicates were carried out for each combination of substrate, particle size, and thickness of the layer. The emergence of adults was assessed daily. Chestnut flour and semolina permitted the development of larvae in a period of time similar to that observed in cereal kernels while chickpea flour and wheat flour were less appropriate food; in fact, only 25% of larvae underwent complete development into adults. In the case of corn meal, rice flour, and wheat bran, only 5% of adults emerged, while larvae were unable to develop on corn starch and potato starch. Although R. dominica is a well-known pest of pasta, pasta debris was less suitable for the development of larvae, as few adults emerged and a longer development time was observed. A three-millimeter layer of suitable food was sufficient for the development of larvae, although a higher number of adults was observed in the 6 mm layer

Light filth method on semolina and pasta

Samples of semolina and pasta were collected from one mill and one pasta plant in Italy for six and four years respectively. They were analyzed by AOAC light filth method (225 g). Altogether, 195 semolina were collected from 2007 to 2012. The mean number of insect fragments detected during this period was 4.9, and each year, a mean of one first instar larva of Stegobium paniceum (L.) was found. A single mite was detected in only one sample. A total of 156 samples of pasta were analyzed during the period 2009 to 2012 and the mean number of fragments in these samples was 10.1. Mandibles of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Tribolium spp. were the most identified filths. Fragments were mainly derived from infestation prior to milling, both in semolina and pasta samples. In fact, fragment size was lower than the granulometry of semolina. Rodent hair was found in few samples

Effects of temporary cooling on larvae of Idaea inquinata (Scopoli) (Lepidoptera Geometridae)

Idaea inquinata develops on dried plants with a preference for medicinal plants. The survival of second and fourth instars larvae of I. inquinata exposed to 6 and -18\ub11 \ub0C, for different periods of time, was observed. Groups of 20 larvae were placed at 6\ub11 \ub0C 60\ub15% R.H. for periods of 15, 18, 20 and 25 days and then put in thermostatic chamber at 26\ub11 \ub0C, 70\ub15% R.H. Tests were controlled after 1, 2, 3, 8, 15 and 23 days until adults emergence. The same procedure was used for tests at -18 \ub0C with exposure times of 4, 8 and 24 hours. For all the tested periods at 6\ub11 \ub0C, a mortality higher than 95% was observed in second instar larvae after 1 day at 26 \ub0C. A 100% mortality was observed on the second day at 26\ub0C after treatment at 6 \ub0C for 18, 20, 25, on the third day for 15 days treatment. Few fourth instar larvae, placed for 25 days at 6 \ub0C, were alive after 8 days at 26 \ub0C, but they didn\u2019t emerge as adult; when exposed for 15, 18 and 20 days few individuals developed to adult. Larvae of I. inquinata were susceptible to the treatment at -18 \ub0C. A 100% mortality was observed after 24 hours, when second and fourth instar larvae were treated for 4 hours at -18 \ub0C

Development of Cadra cautella (Walker), Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton), and Plodia interpunctella (H\ufcbner) (Lepidoptera Pyralidae) on Triticum monococcum L., T. dicoccum Schrank ex Schubler, and T. spelta L.

Groups of 100 eggs (laid 6-24 hours previously) of Cadra cautella, Corcyra cephalonica, and Plodia interpunctella were reared on 30 g of spikelets or kernels of Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccum, and T. spelta in a conditioned room at 26 \ub1 1 \ub0C, 70 \ub1 5 % r.h., and photoperiod 16:8 (L:D). A higher mean number of adults is observed when moths are reared on kernels, except for C. cephalonica on T. monococcum. The mean developmental time is longer with spikelets except when P. interpunctella is reared on T. monococcum. A low number of adults of the three species is observed on spikelets of T. dicoccum and T. spelta. In fact kernels are covered by glumes and inner glumes that hinder larvae feeding. The highest number of adults of C. cautella is observed on kernels of T. dicoccum (76.5 \ub1 7.8). Few adults of this species emerge from spikelets of T. dicoccum (4.7 \ub1 0.5) and T. spelta (4.5 \ub1 1.3). The mean developmental time is not significantly different among kernels (from 49.5 to 54.2 days) and among spikelets (from 61.5 to 66 days) of the different species of cereals. The highest number of C. cephalonica adults is observed on kernels and spikelets of T. monococcum and on kernels of T. dicoccum; numbers are not significantly different (from 78.5 to 79.7 adults). A lower mean number of adults is observed on spikelets of T. dicoccum (28.2 \ub1 1.2) and T. spelta (28.5 \ub1 2) with a longer mean developmental time, 96 \ub1 0.8 and 112.2 \ub1 3.2 days respectively. The shortest mean developmental time is observed on kernels of T. monococcum (54 \ub1 1.8). The highest mean number of adults of P. interpunctella is observed on kernels of T. dicoccum (71 \ub1 5.5) and of T. spelta (70 \ub1 2.2) with mean developmental times of 42 \ub1 0.8 and 36.7 \ub1 0.5 days respectively. Few individuals develop on T. dicoccum (5.2 \ub1 1.3) and T. spelta (2.2 \ub1 1.3) with mean developmental times of 59.2 \ub1 5.4 and 42.5 \ub1 0.6 days

Temperature-dependent development and survivorship of Idaea inquinata (Scopoli) (Lepidoptera Geometridae) eggs at two humidity levels

Idaea inquinata (Scopoli) mainly feeds on dried plants, nevertheless, it is also a potential pest of stored product as it is able to develop on cereal products. The few references on the biology of this species do not deal with the influence of temperature and relative humidity on egg hatching. To fill this gap, groups of 100 eggs, 24-48 hours old, were exposed to constant temperatures (13, 15, 36, and 38\ub11 \ub0C), two relative humidities (35, 70\ub15%) and a photoperiod of 0:24 (Light:Dark); eight tests were carried out. Each test was replicated four times. The lowest proportion of hatched eggs was observed at 15 \ub0C (9.5) and 36 \ub0C (8.7) with 35\ub15% R.H. while at 13 and 38 \ub0C eggs did not hatch. A non-linear function is used to represent the developmental rates and survivorship of eggs at 35 and 70% R.H. between lower and upper thresholds temperature

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

The 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 mu m). 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

Development of rusty wave Idaea inquinata at constant temperatures, relative humidities and photoperiod

The development of larvae and pupae of Idaea inquinata was studied at two different temperatures, relative humidities and photoperiods. Tests were carried out at 26\ub11\ub0C and 29\ub11\ub0C, 50\ub15% RH and 70\ub15% RH, photoperiod 16:8 and 0:24 (light:dark). The highest mortality was observed at 29\ub0C, with 50 and 70% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8. The larval development was longest (64 days) at 26 and 29\ub11 \ub0C, 50\ub15% RH and the photoperiod 16:8, and shortest (23 days) at 29\ub11 \ub0C, 50 and 70\ub15% RH, and the 0:24 photoperiod. The analysis of the mean lengths of the development of larvae at different temperatures and relative humidity with the 16:8 photoperiod showed that the developmental time of larvae decreases with increasing relative humidity. This factor was significant, while the effect of the increase of temperature and the interaction between the temperature and relative humidity was not significant. At a 0:24 photoperiod a decrease of the developmental time of larvae was observed when temperature was increased, both at 50 and at 70% RH. The developmental time of pupae was between 4 and 15 days, the shortest mean developmental time with a highest number of alive individuals was observed at 29\ub11 \ub0C, and the photoperiod of 0:24, and both levels of relative humidity. The pupal developmental time showed small differences at the two relative humidities, with the exception of 26\ub11 \ub0C and photoperiod 16:8: at 50\ub15 % RH where the mean development time was 10.7 days (\ub11.3 SD), and at 70\ub15 % RH with mean duration of 9.1 days (\ub11.6 SD). The photoperiod influenced the length of development in I. inquinata as the shortest mean development periods were observed in the tests carried out with photoperiod (0:24)

Pest detected in packed food : ten years of analysis

More than one hundred food complaints, coming from food industries, food stores, and customers, were analyzed over a ten year period (2004-2013). In the samples of plant products and animal products, the most represented pests were insects and rodents, while in animal products, mites were also found. In plant products, pests of stored products represented the highest percentages in Coleoptera (62.1) and Lepidoptera (48.2), while Diptera were mainly crop pests or species of hygienic concern. In animal products, the highest number of complaints concerned milk and dairy products, and the contaminations were caused by insects, mites, and mice

Basilar Artery Changes in Fabry Disease

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Susceptibility of maize genotypes to Rhyzopertha dominica (F.)

This work examined the survival of Rhyzopertha dominica on maize kernels differing either for specific traits or for their genetic background. Maize traits comprised endosperm starch composition, and accumulation of pigments, i.e., carotenoids and anthocyanins, in the aleurone, while maize genotypes included the B73 reference line, the high oil content RAlexo line and the commercial variety Zea mays everta (popcorn). Kernels of the different genotypes were classified according to the endosperm texture. The number of adults of R. dominica developing from neonate larvae on both whole and sectioned kernels was measured. Differences were only observed in experiments with whole kernels. The lowest value was observed for the B73 line, and the highest for the popcorn variety. These two genotypes have the lowest and highest proportions of vitreous endosperm, respectively. In our experimental conditions, variations in the insect attack were observed in different lines, thus indicating that the insect\u2013kernel interaction is influenced by quantitative more than single-gene traits