The influence of photoperiod on two- sex life table parameters of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 (Lep.: Pyralidae) is a polyphagous pest that its eggs and larvae are used to rear some important biological control agents. In this study, the effect of three photoperiods including complete darkness, complete lightness and 14:10 (L:D) on life table parameters of E. kuehniella investigated, using diet containing a mixture of wheat flour (68%), wheat bran (29%) and 3% yeast was tested at temperature 25 ± 1°C and 65±5% RH. The results show that the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of population increase (λ), the net reproductive rate (R0) and the mean generation time (T) in full darkness were 0.10 day-1, 1.116 day-1, 157.06 offspring and 45.98 days, respectively. Also, these mentioned parameters for full lightness and 14:10 (L:D) were 0.083 day-1, 1.087 day-1, 64.72 offspring ,49.73 days and 0.11 day-1, 1.117 day-1, 141.26 offspring, 44.59 days, respectively. The values of the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of population increase (λ), the net reproductive rate (R0) and the mean generation time (T) in the photoperiod of 14:10 (L:D) were significantly shorter than those of other treatments. The results indicated that changing in photoperiod has noticable effect on life table parameters of Mediterranean flour moth and should be considered for mass rearing of this moth.