Abstract
The development of Plodia interpunctella, Ephestia cautella, E. kuehniella and E. elutella was followed carefully at selected temperatures. Infertility prevented successful breeding of the latter two species at 30°C. The first two species bred successfully at 30°C, failed to complete development at 15°C, and, at 20–30°C, completed development more quickly than the other two. All species took longer to develop and survived less well at 25% r.h. than at 70% r.h., and their pupal stages lasted about twice as long as the egg stages at temperatures allowing development of both. At 25°C, the pupal stage lasted about 9 days in P. interpunctella and E. cautella, 11–12 days in E. kuehniella and about 13 days in E. elutella. In all species other than E. elutella, eggs held at 25°C became more tolerant of cold when aged over 1 day. Younger eggs of P. interpunctella were less tolerant of cold than any eggs of the other species, and were killed outright by holding for 19 days at 15°C. Stocks of all four species recently collected from the field generally tolerated low r.h. and low temperature a little better than laboratory stocks, but at higher temperatures developed from egg to adult a little more slowly.
Published Version
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