Life history of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on dried fruits and nuts: Effects of macronutrients and secondary metabolites on immature stages

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of nutrients and secondary metabolites content in 16 types of dried fruits and four nuts from Serbia on life history traits of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner, 1813) immature stages. The analysis of nutrients content included determination of the total moisture, ash, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, sugars, and total reducing sugars, while from secondary metabolites total phenolics, flavonoids and tannins contents were determined. Life history traits included the developmental duration of larvae (LDD), developmental duration of pupae (PDD) and total immature stages (MDD), as well as the survival of larvae and pupae. Additional analyses was conducted on time specific survival, as well as on the age-and size-growth patterns of P. interpunctella larvae. The principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the content of proteins and fats is in strong positive correlation with larval and total immature stages survival, while in negative correlation with LDD, PDD, and MDD. The content of secondary metabolites are in strong positive correlation with LDD and MDD, while in negative correlation with larval and total immature stages survival. Considering the fastest development and high number of survived larvae and pupae, the walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds were more suitable for the development of P interpunctella than tested dried fruits in general, while the goji berries and figs were the most suitable among tested dried fruits. The results of the effects of tested dried fruits and nuts from Serbia on life history traits of P. interpunctella, combined with studies from different countiries using local varieties and cultivars of dried fruits and nuts, could provide the data for modeling the growth and population dynamics, important for forcasting and signaling the occurance of this pest.