Life table parameters of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on four commercial pistachio cultivars

• Life tables of Plodia interpunctella were studied on four pistachio cultivars.
• Highest mortality for immature stages was on Ahmad-Aghaii.
• Highest mean number of eggs per female was on Akbari.
• Highest rm on Akbari showed that it is a suitable host for P. interpunctella.
• Based on rm value, Kalehghouchi was a more resistant host for P. interpunctella.

Life table parameters of Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), on four pistachio cultivars (Akbari, Ahmad-Aghaii, Fandoghi and Kalehghouchi) were studied in laboratory at 28 ± 0.5 °C, 50 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L:D). The larvae successfully developed on all cultivars. The shortest and longest larval periods were recorded on Akbari and Kalehghouchi, respectively. The fecundity of females varied from 109.19 to 157.81 eggs on Kalehghouchi and Akbari, respectively. The adult longevity varied from 6.19 to 6.75 days on Fandoghi and Akbari, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) ranged from 0.0961 to 0.1382 (female/female/day) on Kalehghouchi and Akbari, respectively. The mean generation time (T) was found 35.67 to 31.83 days on Kalehghouchi and Akbari, respectively. The Kalehghouchi cultivar was less suitable, and the Akbari cultivar was the most suitable host for P. interpunctella in comparison with other cultivars. These results provide important information on population growth potential of P. interpunctella on four commercial pistachio cultivars.

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