Flour Moth Ephestia Kuehniella Research Articles

Testing the Effects of Prey Type on the Life History and Population-Level Parameters of Chrysoperla externa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).

Green lacewings are valuable predators, utilized in augmentative biological control against various agricultural pests. However, further studies are required to comprehend the performance of these predators when consuming natural prey. We investigated the capacity of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) to utilize the following three distinct prey types: the pupae of the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville & Perrottet), the eggs of the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (F.), and the eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller). The first two of these species are naturally occurring prey found in field crops, while the last serves as a factitious prey species for the mass rearing of natural enemies. We hypothesized that the type of prey would differentially affect the life history and population-level parameters of C. externa. Laboratory experiments were conducted to compare the pre-imaginal survival and developmental times, adult longevity and reproduction, and population growth of C. externa when larvae were provided with each of the three prey items. Results indicated that C. externa utilized the two natural prey items, L. coffeella pupae and D. saccharalis eggs, for its development, reproduction, and population growth. However, larvae developed significantly faster and females exhibited higher reproductive parameters, including fecundity and daily oviposition, when consuming the factitious prey, E. kuehniella eggs. This resulted in a higher intrinsic rate of population increase, as well as shorter times for the population to double in size. Understanding the population dynamics of C. externa when consuming different prey items is crucial for optimizing their utilization in augmentative biological control programs.

Determination of essential oil components of Ammi L. genus in Türkiye and their effects on some storage pests

Effects of essential oil components obtained by hydrodistillation of Ammi genus members (Ammi majus L., Ammi visnaga L. (Lam.)), which have important chemical and active components were investigated against two important storage pests; fig borer Cadra cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). A total of 23 and 14 components were detected in A. majus and A. visnaga, respectively, and the product yield was found to be 96.05%, 82.53%. Among them, the major components for A. majus are 2 heptadecanone, benzoic acid, 2 pentadecanone while for A. visnaga they are linalol, nonadecane, carvacrol. Essential oil of A. visnaga extended the adult emergence times in E. kuehniella and C. cautella while the increase in pupation time was found statistically significant only in E. kuehniella. A. visnaga essential oil reduced the adult life span in E. kuehniella at the highest dose while a decrease was detected in both doses applied in C. cautella. Adult weight and number of eggs decreased due to the application of A. visnaga in both insects. Also, alterations were observed in the adult emergence, pupation time, and pupal period. In E. kuehniella and C. cautella, adult life spans, weights and egg production of females showed statistically significant decreases depending on the application of A. majus essential oil. The findings obtained within the scope of the current study reveal that the essential oils of A. majus and A. visnaga species have the potential to be used in the control of storage pest insects.

Automated identification and counting of predated Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) eggs using deep learning image analysis

Predation or kill rate of biological control agents is often used as a proxy to evaluate the efficacy of different species of natural enemies and under different conditions. For generalist predators and many egg parasitoids, eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) are used as factitious prey or hosts in laboratory and field experiments, as they are widely available from mass rearings of the biological control industry. Evaluating the predation or parasitism activity of natural enemies on E. kuehniella is a valuable tool for biological control practitioners around the world. However, manual assessments are laborious and prone to error, as observations may be subjective and depend on the individual performing the task. Here, we developed an automated protocol based on the deep learning object detection algorithm YOLOv5, for the accurate estimation of predated E. kuehniella eggs by piercing-sucking generalist predators. The application of the trained deep learning model achieved high precision (0.90) and recall (0.93) in the identification of predated eggs among intact eggs in our test experiment and was more accurate and faster than two independent observers that performed manual counting under a stereo microscope based on the mean absolute percentage error metric. Furthermore, a case study is presented where the predation activity of the generalist predators Orius laevigatus, Orius majusculus, Orius minutus, Nesidiocoris tenuis, Macrolophus pygmaeus, and Dicyphus errans is compared. Further applications and expansions of the protocol are discussed.

Fumigant toxicity of four essential oils against the carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae Zeller and the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella

ABSTRACT Eucalyptus leucoxylon, Rosmarinus officinalis, berries, and leaves of Schinus molle essential oils were analysed using GC-MS techniques and assessed for their fumigant toxicity against adults, larvae, and eggs of Ectomyelois ceratoniae and Ephestia kuehniella. Results showed that E. leucoxylon contained Spathulenol, p-Cymene, and Cryptone as major compounds. GC – MS analyses showed that the major compounds of R. officinalis essential oil were 1,8-Cineole, Camphor, and α-pinene. I-Phellandrene, t-Muurolol, and Phellandrene were the major components of the S. molle leaves; while I-Phellandrene, Limonen, and δ-Cadinene were the major components of the S. molle berries. S. molle berries were the most efficient followed by R. officinalis against E. ceratoniae and E. kuehniella. The most effective tested essential oil against E. ceratoniae larvae was S. molle berries. Results on the ovicidal and larvicidal effects of the tested oils demonstrated that R. officinalis was the most effective essential oil against E. kuehniella eggs.

Is pollinivory in the omnivorous ladybird beetle Micraspis discolor (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) symbiosis-dependent?

The ladybird beetle Micraspis discolor is a potential biological control agent in the rice ecosystems of Asia. Besides attacking a range of arthropod prey the ladybird also feeds on pollen. To explore the mechanism of pollinivory of M. discolor, we compared the transcriptomes and microbiomes of the ladybird when fed rape pollen versus insect foods (the aphid Aphis craccivora, the mealybug Planococcus citri or eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella). We also set out to identify putative cellulase genes and cellulolytic bacteria that might aid in pollen digestion. From the genome of M. discolor, we only identified glycoside hydrolase family 1 genes as candidate cellulase genes. However, these genes were not differentially expressed under the pollen-fed treatment as compared to the other diets. Transcriptome comparison among different diet treatments of M. discolor showed that differentially expressed genes were mainly related to nutrient metabolism, indicating differences in nutrient and antinutrient composition among the different diets. When comparing the microbiomes of M. discolor under different diet treatments, cellulolytic bacteria, like Siphonobacter aquaeclarae, were detected as discriminative biomarkers of pollen feeding. The findings from transcriptome and microbiome analyses indicate that cellulolytic bacteria might play a more important role than endogenous genes in pollen digestion by this ladybird beetle.

Entomopathogens as biological control of the mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller, Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is one of the most important insect pests that invade the stored grain of many grains around the world. Chemical control is a very preferred method in the fight of this pest. However, due to the economic, social and environmental damages of chemicals, the interest in biological control, which is an alternative method, is gradually increasing. Entomopathogens have very important in biological control and that cause desired infections in pests. Entomopathogens include many species such as viruses, bacteria, protists, fungi and nematodes. In recent years, entomopathogeic nematodes; Steinernema feltiae, Steinernema carpocapsae, Steinernema riobrave, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Heterorhabditis sp., Steinernema sp., and Xenorhabdus nematophila, entomopathogenic fungi; Paecilomyces fumosoroseus (=Isaria fumosorosea), Beuveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, entomopathogenic bacteria; Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Photorhabdus temperata and Bacillus subtilis, entomopathogenic protists; Vairimorpha ephestiae, Leidyana ephestiae, Mattesia dispora and Mattesia oryzaephili, and virus; Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (NPV) were reported from E.kuehniella. In this review, it is aimed to evaluate the recent status of these entomopathogenic organisms found or tested for E. kuehniella

Wolbachia impairs post-eclosion host preference in a parasitoid wasp.

Host preference behavior can result in adaptive advantages with important consequences for the fitness of individuals. Hopkin's host-selection principle (HHSP) suggests that organisms at higher trophic levels demonstrate a preference for the host species on which they developed during their own larval stage. Although investigated in many herbivorous and predatory insects, the HHSP has, to our knowledge, never been tested in the context of insects hosting selfish endosymbiotic passengers. Here, we investigated the effect of infection with the facultative bacterial symbiont Wolbachia on post-eclosion host preference in the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma brassicae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). We compared host preference in Wolbachia-infected individuals and uninfected adult female parasitoids after rearing them on two different Lepidopteran hosts, namely the flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) or the grain moth Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in choice and no choice experimental design (n = 120 wasps per each choice/no choice experiments). We showed that in T. brassicae, Wolbachia affects the post-eclosion host preference of female wasps. Wolbachia-infected wasps did not show any host preference and more frequently switched hosts in the laboratory, while uninfected wasps significantly preferred to lay eggs on the host species they developed on. Additionally, Wolbachia significantly improved the emergence rate of infected wasps when reared on new hosts. Altogether, our results revealed that the wasp's infection with Wolbachia may lead to impairment of post-eclosion host preference and facilitates growing up on different host species. The impairment of host preference by Wolbachia may allow T. brassicae to shift between hosts, a behavior that might have important evolutionary consequences for the wasp and its symbiont.

Alternate lighting to enhance the oviposition behavior of parasitoid wasps by increasing the movement of host larvae

An optical method, alternate lighting, is proposed to increase the oviposition activity of parasitoid wasps. The Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a substitute host for rearing Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a parasitoid wasp of exposed-living lepidopteran pests, but its low autonomous oviposition in E. kuehniella larvae had to be improved. We attempted to enhance the oviposition behavior of M. pulchricornis by increasing the movement of E. kuehniella larvae through negative phototaxis by alternate LED lighting. Alternate lighting at 5 min intervals approximately tripled the movement of E. kuehniella larvae and almost doubled the number of eggs laid by M. pulchricornis into them. Silk-thread entanglement was a critical problem that decreased intact wasps when they were together with E. kuehniella larvae; however, it could be relieved under alternate lighting.

The effect of host species on the development of immature stages and biological aspects of the larval parasitoid, Bracon hebetor Say [Hymenoptera: Braconidae] adults

Present research was conducted to study the effect of the host species on the developmental duration of the immature stages of the larval parasitoid, Bracon hebetor and on the biological aspects of the adults of the parasitoid when reared on three different hosts: the great wax moth Galleria mollonella, the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella and the fig moth Ephestia cautella. The results showed that the species of host had a significant effect on some development of the immature stages of the parasite, B. hebetor, as the longest period of the pupa duration on the G. mellonella host was 7.37 days, while the shortest period of the pupa duration on the E. kuehniella host was 4.87 days. The results indicated that there was a significant difference in the period of development from egg to adult of the parasite when reared on host G. mellonella and host E. kuehniella, which amounted to 12.97 and 10.07 days, respectively, on the one hand, and between host E. cautella and host E. kuehniella on the other hand were 11.93 and 10.07 days, respectively. The results also showed that the highest value of the percentage of eggs hatching was 86.60% on the host G. mellonella, while it was 53.7 and 67.80% on the hosts E. kuehniella and E. cautella, respectively.

Effectiveness of the Brown Lacewing, Sympherobius barberi Banks as a Biological Control Agent of the Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri Kuwayama.

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri Kuwayama is an economically important pest of citrus because it vectors the causal pathogens of huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening disease. Biological control is an important component of citrus pest management but requires consistent strengthening of its impact on pest complex. The brown lacewing Sympherobius barberi Banks is a known predator of several insect pests from Asia, Europe, and America. However, there is not much information about its effectiveness against D. citri. We evaluated S. barberi against the D. citri and frozen eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella, the latter is a common diet used for rearing predators in laboratories. Adult S. barberi successfully fed on D. citri eggs and nymphs under both light and dark conditions. Diaphorina citri was also suitable for the development and reproduction of S. barberi except for slightly prolonged larval development compared with E. kuehniella diet. The egg hatch from the total number of eggs laid on D. citri and E. kuehniella diets averaged 65% and 52%, respectively. Females laid 64% eggs on dimpled white paper compared to 36% combined on plain paper and leaves of citrus, orange jasmine, eggplant and cantaloupe. Sympherobius barberi released at densities of 2–6 adults against eggs and nymphs of D. citri on infested orange jasmine plants in the cages provided a reduction of 43–81% in the number of provided eggs or nymphs. In the field tests on D. citri infested citrus trees, reduction averaged 35% in five cohorts in which developing colonies of 28–32 nymphs were provided to one S. barberi per cage. Findings suggest the significant potential of S. barberi as a predator of D. citri and to contribute to reducing huanglongbing.

Nutritional quality of Drosophila melanogaster as factitious prey for rearing the predatory bug Orius majusculus.

The predatory bug, Orius majusculus (Reuter), is an important predator of thrips commercially produced for augmentative releases using the eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller). In this study, we assessed the potential for using frozen adults of fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen), either as nymphal rearing diet or as diet throughout the entire life-cycle. We compared life-history traits and reproduction of predators when fed D. melanogaster with high lipid body content (lipid-rich) and with high protein body content (protein-rich), using a diet of 100% E. kuehniella eggs as control. We also analyzed the biochemical composition of both prey and predator in order to assess the nutritional quality of each diet, which partially explained the adequacy of the different diets for O. majusculus. There were significant differences between predators fed the two types of D. melanogaster, with the protein-rich flies as diet providing the best results in terms of mortality and fecundity. Furthermore, we show that while feeding O. majusculus throughout their development with D. melanogaster increases mortality and reduces reproduction, protein-rich D. melanogaster can be used as nymphal diet with minimal reduction in reproductivity and minimal increase in mortality.

Fumigant toxicity at low temperature of four different essential oils against different stages of Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Biyopreparatlar, bitkisel bileşikler ve fungus, bakteri, nematod vb. canlı organizmalardan elde edilen ve biyolojik madde şekline getirilerek tarımda zararlılara ve hastalıklara karşı kullanılan preparatlardır. Elde edilmesi kolay ve çevrede kalıntı bırakmayarak buhar özelliğine sahip hızlı bir şekilde parçalanabilen uçucu yağlar, kimyasal sentetiklere alternatifler olarak görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada seçilen dört farklı bitkinin [kişniş (Coriandrum sativum L.), adaçayı (Salvia officinalis L.), lavanta (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) ve nane (Mentha spicata L.)] uçucu yağlarının, Değirmen güvesi Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)‘nın iki farklı gelişme dönemine karşı fümigant toksisitesine bakılmıştır. E. kuehniella‘nın larva döneminde üç günlük deneme süresinde adaçayı ve kişniş uçucu yağlarının en yüksek fümigant etkiyi (sırasıyla %96 ve %98) gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. Zararlının yumurta döneminde ise lavanta ve kişniş uçucu yağlarında %98 oranında bir fümigant etki görülmüştür. Dahası bu bitkilerin en az dozlarının bile yumurta açılımını en yüksek düzeyde engellediği tespit edilmiştir. Bu sonuçlara göre çevre dostu uçucu yağların zararlının mücadelesinde umut verici olduğu görülmüştür.

Screening for insecticidal efficacy of two Algerian essential oils with special concern to their impact on biological parameters of Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Chemical composition of Algerian Mentha rotundifolia and Myrtus communis essential oils, their insecticidal activities and their impact on some biological parameters of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella were assessed. Results showed that M. rotundifolia essential oil contained piperitenone oxide (46.06%), d-limonene (9.10%), cis-piperitone oxide (6.81%), and endo-borneol (4.64%) as major compounds, while M. communis oil was rich in α-pinene (29.08%), 1,8-cineole (36.82%), α-terpineol (6.42%), geranyl acetate (4.38%), and β-linalool (4.04%). The fumigant potential and contact toxicity tests against E. kuehniella demonstrated the effectiveness of M. rotundifolia essential oil (LC50 = 0.54 μL/L air, LC50 = 0.004 μL/cm2) compared to M. communis oil (LC50 = 2.91 μL/L air, LC50 = 0.025 μL/cm2). Moreover, results revealed that all biological parameters were significantly affected (fecundity: 6 eggs/female, oviposition deterrence: 96.62%, log fertility: 0, hatching rate: 0%, copulation rate: 0% for M. rotundifolia oil against fecundity: 93 eggs/female, percentage of oviposition deterrence: 47.85%, log fertility: 6.7, hatching rate: 57%, copulation rate: 53.33% for M. communis oil). This work supports the use of botanical insecticide as active pest control agents under storage conditions.

Influence of a diet containing tobacco on the biology of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and its parasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Host diet often influences its biological parameters and the success of their parasitoids, both in mass rearing, field research and parasitism in applied biological control programs. Habrobracon hebetor (Say, 1836) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an important biological control agent of the flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller, 1879) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), which infests tobacco, grain and other products in storage. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different proportions of tobacco in artificial diets on the biological parameters of the host E. kuehniella and its parasitoid H. hebetor. Four classes of Virginia tobacco with different sugar and nicotine concentrations were added to flour diets for moths in different percentages (5, 10 and 15%).The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 × 4 factorial scheme (percentage of dietary tobacco × class of tobacco). In the parasitoid bioassays, hosts fed only with 5% tobacco were used. For E. kuehniella, the development time (egg-adult), viability of immature stages, sex ratio, fecundity, egg viability and longevity were measured. For H. hebetor, percentage parasitism, offspring sex ratio, number of paralyzed and parasitized larvae, egg-adult viability and parasitism preference were measured. Tobacco classes and percentages added to the diet influenced the development time and viability of E. kuehniella. The 5% host diet did not influence the different biological parameters and behaviour of H. hebetor. For mass rearing of H. hebetor, it is unnecessary to add tobacco to the artificial diet in order to improve parasitoid performance.

Combined action of Lavandula angustifolia Miller essential oil and gamma irradiation treatment on some biological aspects of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller)

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an integrated pest management intervention for controlling the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller using gamma radiation and Lavandula angustifolia Moench essential oil as feasible alternatives to synthetic insecticides. The mortality rate of E. kuehniella larvae treated with either gamma radiation or L. angustifolia essential oil separately was much lower than the mortality rate after the combined treatment. High synergistic effects (Synergism = 0.1) were observed in all dosages, especially using 1.14 and 1.7 µL/L air of L. angustifolia in combination with 200 Gy of gamma radiation, which was more effective than the other treatments. The results of the antifeedant test indicated that the relative growth rate and relative consumption rate in fumigated (0.021 and 0.021 mg/mg/day) and irradiated (0.026 and 0.049 mg/mg/day) larvae were significantly lower than those of non-treated ones (0.035 and 0.093 mg/mg/day). The results also showed a significant increase in the efficacy of conversion of ingested food and feeding deterrent index due to both irradiation and essential oil. The experiments showed that the known insecticidal effectiveness of essential oils can be enhanced by preliminary irradiation.

Activity and inactivity of moth sex chromosomes in somatic and meiotic cells

Moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera) are the most species-rich group of animals with female heterogamety, females mostly having a WZ, males a ZZ sex chromosome constitution. We studied chromatin conformation, activity, and inactivity of the sex chromosomes in the flour moth Ephestia kuehniella and the silkworm Bombyx mori, using immunostaining with anti-H3K9me2/3, anti-RNA polymerase II, and fluoro-uridine (FU) labelling of nascent transcripts, with conventional widefield fluorescence microscopy and 'spatial structured illumination microscopy' (3D-SIM). The Z chromosome is euchromatic in somatic cells and throughout meiosis. It is transcriptionally active in somatic cells and in the postpachaytene stage of meiosis. The W chromosome in contrast is heterochromatic in somatic cells as well as in meiotic cells at pachytene, but euchromatic and transcriptionally active like all other chromosomes at postpachytene. As the W chromosomes are apparently devoid of protein-coding genes, their transcripts must be non-coding. We found no indication of 'meiotic sex chromosome inactivation' (MSCI) in the two species.

Functional responses of three guilds of spiders: Comparing single‐ and multiprey approaches

AbstractSpiders are successful natural enemies of pests occurring throughout the different strata of an agroecosystem. The study of their functional responses can provide information related to the potential effectiveness of different species and guilds on reducing a pest population. However, multiple prey availability may change the functional response of a predator. In this study, the functional responses of three species of spiders in single‐prey and multiple‐prey experiments were modelled. The spider species Haplodrassus rufipes, Araniella cucurbitina and Synema globosum were chosen as being representatives of ground runners, orb‐weavers and ambushers, respectively. Three prey species were selected: a target prey, the Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata and two alternate prey species, the flour moth Ephestia kuehniella and the house cricket Acheta domesticus. When the selected target prey C. capitata was supplied in the single‐prey experiments, the most and the least efficient spider species were H. rufipes and S. globosum, respectively. However, opposite results were obtained when alternative preys were supplied. Also, A. cucurbitina significantly changed its functional response with the presence of alternative prey species. Considering the prey preference during the multiple‐prey experiments, A. domesticus, used as representative of a heavy, long‐sized and highly motile prey, was avoided whereas C. capitata, the target pest used as representative of light, small‐sized and moderately motile prey was preferred by the three species of spiders. Ephestia kuehniella, used as representative of light, medium‐sized and low motile prey was occasionally consumed. Each guild could include efficient predators against pests according to its hunting strategies and the ecological exploited niches. Orb‐weavers could be efficient predators against flying pests; ambushers such as S. globosum could contribute to the reduction of the populations of flower‐visiting pests, whereas active ground hunters may also play an important role preying on pests that develop a part or all of its life cycle in the ground. However, further research on feeding behaviour such as prey switching is needed for a better understanding of the effectiveness of spiders as natural enemies.

Host-preference and parasitic capacity of new candidates of Trichogramma species (Hym.:Trichogrammatidae) against some stored product moths

The host-preference and parasitic capacity of some local Trichogramma spp. (T. bourarachae, T. cordubensis, T. euproctidis and T. cacociae) towards four species of stored product moth eggs were investigated in order to select new candidate species for use in mass rearing and biological control against moths in storages. The efficacy of the Trichogramma spp. was compared with T. evanescens, the common wasp used commercially for biological control. Experiments were carried out by offering a single parasitoid female to eggs of the Indianmeal moth Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, the warehouse moth E. elutella (Hubner), and the almond moth, Cadra cautella (Walker) in choice and no-choice assays. Two different choice experiments were used to certify the same conclusion in both methods. The bioassay for host-preference of Trichogramma was carried out by offering a single early female wasp the choice between equal numbers of host eggs on square cards “Petri dish tests “and/or strip cards “strip card tests”. In Petri dish tests, E.kuehniella was a highly acceptable host species for T. bourarachae, T. euproctidis, and T. cacociae wasps while E.elutella and C.cautella eggs were more acceptable for T. evanescens and T.cordubensis, respectively. In strip card tests, E.kuehniella eggs were highly acceptable for T.bourarachae, T.cacociae and T.evanescens. Eggs of E.elutella and C.cautella were more acceptable for T.euproctidis andT. cordubensis, respectively. Significant differences were found among the parasitic capacity of the tested Trichogramma spp.: T. borarachae showed a good parasitic potential against S.cerealella and E. kuehniella; T.evanescens and T. cacociae against S.cerealella; T. cordubensis against S.cerealella and P. interpunctella and T. euproctidis against P. interpunctella. All tested wasps had a propensity to superparasitize the host eggs. T. cordubensis, T. euproctidis and T. borarachae showed promise for further investigation into selecting new biological control agents against some stored product lepidopterous pests.

Conservation of stored food using plant's extracts. Effect of oregano (Origanum vulgaris) essential oils on the reproduction and development of flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella)

In the search for effective methods of biological control of stored products insect-pests, the essential oil of Origanum vulgaris was extracted using Clevenger apparatus and tested on reproduction and mortality of flour moth Ephestia kuehniella. Bio-insecticide works with a double action mechanism; administered by inhalation in pupae, essential oil affects their pupal development. It also disrupts the reproduction of exuviated adults by extending the preoviposition period and reducing the period of egg laying and fecundity because fecundated females cannot live more than four days compared to control group. Moreover, the essential oil administered by inhalation in adults causes a significant mortality rate compared to control group by reducing their lifespan. A repellent effect against larvae and adults of this pest was noticed in this work. This allowed us ranking this oil as "moderately repulsive".

Host suitability of the Mediterranean flour moth for rearing Meteorus pulchricornis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a polyphagous endoparasitoid of pest lepidopteran larvae

We investigated the host suitability of the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) for a polyphagous koinobiont endoparasitoid Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a common natural enemy of various pest lepidopteran larvae. The estimated probability of adult wasp emergence was 80% or higher when eggs were laid in nearly fully grown larvae of E. kuehniella (fresh weight, > 20.0 mg). The body size of emerged adult wasps increased with the initial weight of the host larvae at oviposition. The fresh weight of adult wasps reared on E. kuehniella was approximately 60% of that when reared on a natural host Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the lifetime fecundity of wasps reared on E. kuehniella was approximately half of that when reared on S. litura. Ephestia kuehniella was shown to be a positive host candidate for the mass rearing of M. pulchricornis, but further investigation is needed to increase the body size of wasps for more practical use of this species as a biocontrol agent.