Life Table Parameters and Digestive Enzymatic Activity ofPlodia interpunctella(Hübner) (Pyralidae) on Artificial Diet Containing Bran of Various Wheat Cultivars

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The eggs and larvae of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), are widely used for mass rearing of parasitoids and predators. Life table parameters and digestive enzymatic activity (protease and α-amylase) of P. interpunctella were studied on bran of different wheat cultivars (‘Backcross Roshan’, ‘Khooshe Pishgam’, ‘Khoshki line 9’, ‘Arg’, ‘Alvand’, ‘Pishtaz’, ‘WS-89-2’, ‘Sepahan’ and ‘Bam’) when incorporated into artificial diets under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1°C, 65 ± 5% R.H., and a 16:8 h light-dark photoperiod). The net reproductive rate (R0) of P. interpunctella was highest on ‘Backcross Roshan’ (78.05±4.80 female/ female/generation) and lowest on ‘Pishtaz’ (21.82±0.96 female/female/generation). The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) ranged from 0.0520±0.0006 to 0.0836±0.0008 (day-1), which was lowest on ‘Pishtaz’ and highest on ‘Backcross Roshan’. The highest and lowest levels of proteolytic activity were recorded in the fifth instar larvae fed with ‘Backcross Roshan’ (1.19 ...