Effects of Larval Feeding From Glycerol and Adult Water Drinking on Some Biological Aspects of the Mediterranean Flour Moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lep.; Pyralidae)

Feeding of adults of stored-product moths in the genus Ephestia from water and sugar solutions as well as quantity and quality of larval diets would affect many biological properties of adults. In this study, effects of feeding of larvae from dietary glycerol, and male and female adult access to water were evaluated in the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller. Larvae were reared on two different diets: wheat germ brewer’s yeast glycerol (10:1:2), and wheat germ brewer’s yeast (10:1). Some adults were allowed to drink water for two days before mating and some others had no access to water. Larval feeding from dietary glycerol, if male and female adults had no access to water, had a significant effect on female longevity, but access to water either by one or two sexes made the effect non-significant. Drinking water by the two sexes, depending on feeding of larvae from glycerol-containing or glycerol-free diets, decreased female longevity significantly and non-significantly, respectively. Presence of glycerol in larval diet had a significant effect on longevity of male adults but in contrast with females, access of male adults to water did not compensate the negative effect of glycerol-free diet. Females obtained from larval glycerol diets showed higher fecundity. Drinking water or not by one sex altered the effect of water access on fecundity by other sex. Feeding from dietary glycerol increased the percentage eggs hatched, and mating of males and females with or without access to water showed different effects on egg hatchability. In general, presence of glycerol in larval diet and drinking water by adults increased the adult's longevity and fecundity, and percentage eggs hatched was affected by larval dietary glycerol and male adult access to water.