Insect Pests of Vegetable, Ornamental and Spice Crops (2+1)

Indian meal moth

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