Hydroprene Prolongs Developmental Time and Increases Mortality in Wandering-phase Indianmeal Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Larvae

Abstract

Wandering phase Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), larvae were exposed to the label rate of hydroprene (1.9 × 10−3 mg [AI]/cm2) sprayed on concreted petri dishes. Larvae were exposed for 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 h and maintained at 16, 20, 24, 28, and 32°C and 57% RH until adult emergence. Larval developmental time and mortality were significantly influenced by temperature and exposure intervals. Maximum developmental time (47.2 ± 1.3 d) occurred at 16°C, and the minimum developmental time (7.0 ± 0.5 d) occurred at 32°C. Larval mortality generally increased at all of the five tested temperatures as exposure period increased. The greatest mortality (82.0 ± 0.1%) occurred when larvae were exposed for 30 h at 28°C, and minimum mortality (0.0 ± 0.5%) occurred at 16°C when larvae were exposed for 1 h. The relationships between temperature, exposure period, and developmental time were described by polynomial models, based on lack-of-fit tests. Hydroprene has potential to be an effective alternative to conventional insecticides in surface treatments for Indianmeal moth management. Response-surface models derived from this study can be used in simulation models to estimate the potential consequences of hydroprene on Indianmeal moth population dynamics.