A wild strain of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) from farm-stored maize in South Carolina: Effect of temperature on mating, survival, and fecundity

The purpose of this study was to develop age-specific survivorship and fecundity schedules for adult Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) relevant to maize storages, with special reference to the southeastern states (USA). Laboratory cultures were established with moths collected from farm-stored maize in South Carolina and maintained on cracked maize at 30 °C and 60% r.h. Age-specific schedules of survivorship and fecundity, the length of the oviposition period, mating success, and mating frequency were determined at 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C and about 75% r.h. The maximum oviposition period was longest (18 d) at 20 and 25 °C, and shortest (8 d) at 35 °C. The optimum temperatures for reproduction (mating frequency and fecundity) were 25–30 °C, but mean life-span was longest (13.2 d) at 20 °C and declined linearly with increasing temperature. Mean total (lifetime) fecundity ranged from 16.9 eggs at 35 °C to 227.7 eggs at 25 °C.