Age-stage, two-sex life table of Ephestai kuheniella (Lep: Pyrallidae) at different constant temperatures

Abstract

Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, is a major pest in stored products, and a host resurgence for rear natural enemies. Understanding the relation between temperature variations and the life table parameters of E. kuheniella is necessary to predicting its population dynamics and improve the efficiency of mass rearing through determining the optimal temperature. The influence of seven temperatures (15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, 27.5 and 30 °C) on the development, reproduction and survival of E. kuehniella were tested under laboratory conditions. Development time of almost all immature stages in E. kuheniella was the shortest at temperatures of 30, while the longevity of male and female decreased with increasing temperatures. At 27.5 °C E. kuheniella females had the highest intrinsic rate of natural increase (0.07111 d−1), and finite rate of increase (1.077 d−1). All demographic parameters showed a parabolic relation with temperature. The consequences of the present research showed that the temperatures between 25 °C to 27 °C, were most favorable for the reproduction and development of E. kuheniella and that for mass rearing in this species and predict E. kuheniella population phenology and dynamics.