The Effect of Different Nutrient Combinations on Development Time and Emergence rate of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

In this study, the effects of different nutrient combinations on the development time and emergence rate in the cultivation of the host Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), which has an important place in biological control mass production, were investigated. Food experiments were carried out by using 200 g different food combinations in 15 x 20 x 8 cm containers and adding 1.000 Mediterranean flour moth eggs on it. Standard food and ground hazelnut shell were used. 5 different food combinations; A (200 g standard food as a control), B (50 g standard food + 150 g hazelnut shell), C (100 g standard food + 100 g ground hazelnut shell), D (150 g standard food + 50 g ground hazelnut shell) and E (200 gr ground hazelnut shell) were used for the experiments. As a result, no moth emergence was observed in the group E. The development time was 41 days in A, 48.3 days in B, 41.3 days in C, and 41 days in D. The best development time was observed in food combination D compared to food combination A (control). The development time was statistically found significant. The adult emergence rate was 91,86% in A, 18,16% in B, 82,00% in C and, 95,63% in D. As a result, D food combination is recommended in mass production of Ephestia kuehniella, because the development time is short and the adult emergence rate is the highest.