Efficacy of gamma irradiation for the sterilization of Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella

Abstract

Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is a cosmopolitan pest of stored grain commodities & processed food. About 30% of crop losses occur due to pests & diseases each year in Bangladesh. Due to negative effects of pesticides or the increasing resistance of the pests we adopted an alternative way i.e. Sterile Insect Technique methods, friendly to the environment. This experiment was done by implementing gamma irradiation (Cobalt-60) for sterilization of Indian meal moth to suppress the reproductive potential of the moth. Present study reveals that gamma radiation surprisingly prevented egg production, the number of eggs was zero at all the doses that we selected, when treated male were mated with treated female adults (TM x TF) in F1 generation. Higher doses of radiation were more effective on late adults to control the population in F1 generation than parental generation. 500 Gy dose was completely effective on late adults to prevent the hatchability for all cross schedules that we did in F1 generation. This (TM x TF) would be sufficient to control the fecundity & hatchability of late adults, Plodia interpunctella. The main objective of using SIT was to prevent the losses of this stored grain pest while mitigating the risks of pesticides on the environment, non- target organisms including human health.