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

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±2oC 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

Morphometric Analysis of the Developmental Stages and Insecticidal Efficacy of Three Botanical Oils Against Adult Callosobruchus analis

The developmental stages of Callosobruchus analis were observed under laboratory conditions at 28 ± 2 °C and 72 ± 5% relative humidity. The results showed that female C. analis began to lay eggs within 24 hours and have an oviposition period of 8.50 ± 0.70 days and an average of 13.00 ± 0.50 eggs were laid by individual C. analis throughout their lifetime. The mean developmental periods from egg to larva and larva to pupa were observed to be 8.50 ± 0.79 and 4.50 ± 0.70 days, respectively. The unmated bruchids were observed to have lived longer than the mated bruchids as the unmated bruchids lifespan was on average 10.50 ± 0.81 days, as opposed to 2.50 ± 0.75 days for mated females. Adult male C. analis have an average antenna length of 2.96 ± 0.08 mm which is slightly longer than 2.42 ± 0.12 mm on average for female bruchids. The three botanical oil extracts from Capsicum frutescens, Anacardium occidentale and Xylopia aethiopica used at 10.0% concentration were not effective, as none of them resulted in a mortality rate of 50% when recorded 3 days after treatment