ABSTRACT
In this study, life history and nutritional indices of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) was evaluated on six food commodities: dried fig, dried wheat germ, dried white mulberry, groundnut, pistachio, and raisin, compared with artificial diet. The influence of dietary macronutrient content on digestive α-amylase was also assessed. A delay in the developmental time of P. interpunctella immature stages was detected when larvae were fed on raisin. The highest survival rate of immature stages was on the artificial diet, and the lowest was on raisin. The highest realized fecundity and fertility were recorded for the females reared on artificial diet. Overall, fourth instar P. interpunctella reared on artificial diet had the highest relative consumed and growth rate, and lowest rates were observed in larvae fed raisin. Amylolytic activity and isoform patterns varied depending on larval instar and diets, but were higher for larvae fed artificial diet with moderate carbohydrate and protein. Zymograms showed the presence of three isoforms of α-amylase in midgut extracts of P. interpunctella fed different diets. Larvae fed dried white mulberry, fig, and raisin had one (A2) α-amylase isoform. The data suggest that dietary carbohydrate and protein content induce changes in nutritional efficiency, development, and α-amylase activity. A survey of the differences in digestive enzyme activity in response to macronutrient balance and imbalance highlight their importance in the nutrition of insects.
Subject(s)
Dietary Carbohydrates/metabolism , Dietary Proteins/metabolism , Digestion/physiology , Insect Proteins/metabolism , Moths/physiology , alpha-Amylases/metabolism , Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Animals , Diet , Life History Traits , Moths/growth & developmentABSTRACT
The sexual calling behaviour of Ectomyelois ceratoniae, (zell.) was observed in the laboratory under 16L: 8D photoperiodic regime and three different constant temperatures, 20, 25 and 30 degrees C. E. ceratoniae, females showed a broad late-scotophase peak of calling activity without any calling throughout the photophase. Most females started calling during the eclosion day on, regardless of the temperature. With increasing age, moths initiated calling significantly earlier at night and the mean time spent calling increased significantly on successive days of calling. There was an inverse relationship between mean time spent calling and mean onset time of calling (r = -0.8079, p < 0.0001) and these parameters significantly affected by age and square of temperature.
Subject(s)
Animal Communication , Moths/physiology , Animals , Cluster Analysis , Female , Larva/metabolism , Light , Male , Moths/genetics , Pheromones , Photoperiod , Sexual Behavior, Animal , Software , Temperature , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Herbivore induced plant volatiles (HIPV) that cause by plant because of pest feeding can affect on the searching behavioral response of natural enemies. We investigated the response of generalist predator Orius albidipennis Reut (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) to volatiles from strawberry and cucumber leaves which infested with the spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) in Y-tube olfactometer under ambient laboratory conditions. Our results suggest that O. albidipennis is able to discriminate between volatiles emitted by infested plant versus uninfested plant and show the ability of predatory bugs to use odours related to prey presence to locate them.
