Indian meal moth
Indian meal moth
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4. Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Phycitidae: Lepidoptera)
- Hosts: Important pest of dried and stored commodities in the pantry.
Identification
- Basal half of the fore wings is silver white or grayish, outer two third portion is reddish, copper bronze with irregular bands
- Hind wings are also silvery grey with silky fringes.
- Fresh larva is transparent, about 1mm
- Full grown larva is about 13mm in size, dirty white in colour having granular skin and hairs on the body.
Life cycle
- Incubation period varies from 2 to 17 days
- Larval period is 30-35 days but may be prolonged during low temperatures
- Total life cycle is completed in about 27 days but may be prolonged during winter
Salient features
- Each female can lay 40-275 eggs during its life time
- It feeds superficially but may construct more than one silken tunnel
- Best temperature is around 30°C and RH around 75 %
- Below 10°C there is no development
Management of stored pests:
- Sun drying
- Surface treatment
- Fumigation
- Improved storage recepticles
5. Onion maggot/ onion fly, Delia antiqua:
- For details please see the insect pests of onion
6. Gladiolus thrips,
- Taeniothrips simplex (Thripidae: Thysanoptera) :
- For details please see the insect pests of gladiolus
7. Potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella:
- For details please see the insect pests of potato
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Last modified: Saturday, 3 March 2012, 9:04 AM