Nutritional indices, and proteolytic and digestive amylolytic activities of Ephestia kuehniella (Lep.: Pyralidae): response to flour of nine wheat cultivars

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Abstract

The eggs and larvae of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Zell.) are widely used to rear parasitoids and predators for biological control programs. In this study, nutritional responses, proteolytic and digestive amylolytic activities of the fifth instar larvae as well as some biological parameters of E. kuehniella were studied on flour of nine wheat cultivars under laboratory conditions. The longest larval period of the fifth instar was on the cultivars Back cross Roshan and Sepahan and the shortest was on cultivar Tajan. The highest daily and total fecundity was observed on N-86-7. The fifth larval instar reared on Pishtaz showed the highest efficiency of conversion of ingested food. The highest general proteolytic activity was determined on the cultivar N-86-7 and the lowest was on N-80-19. Maximum and minimum digestive amylolytic activity was determined on the cultivars Kuhdasht and Khoshki line 9, respectively. According to the results obtained, Pishtaz and N-86-7 were the most suitable cultivars for laboratory rearing of E. kuehniella as the alternative host to use in the mass production of natural enemies.

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Journal of Entomological Society of Iran
Volume 33, Issue 4
March 2014
Pages 29-41

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