Rearing Stored-Product Insects for Laboratory Studies: Six Species of Moths

Systems were developed for continuous maintenance of the almond moth, Cadra cautella (Walker); dried-fruit moth, Vitula edmandsae serratilineella Ragonot; Indian-meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner); Mediterranean flour moth, Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller); raisin moth, C. figulilella (Gregson); and tobacco moth, Ephestia elutella (Hubner). Cultures contained in widemouthed 1-gallon jars vented through a screened opening in the lid were reared in a room maintained at 80±2 °F and 55±5% relative humidity on a diet consisting of 15 parts each of poultry laying and chick starter mash, 10 parts rolled barley, 5 parts raisins, and 4 parts glycerine. Eggs from moths in 1-pint egg-laying jars covered with screen and inverted over filter paper in the bottoms of 10-cm petri dishes were collected at 2- or 3-day intervals to start new cultures. Almond, Indian-meal, and raisin moth eggs from jars covered with 30-mesh brass strainer cloth were cleaned with a U. S. no. 40 sieve. Dried-fruit, Mediterranean flour, and tobacco moth eggs from jars covered with 18X14-mesh wire screen were cleaned with a no. 30 sieve. Production (mg eggs per moth) obtained from unsexed adults not more than 2 or 3 days old was: 1.03/almond, 1.57/dried-fruit, 0.97/lndian-meal, 2.37/Mediterrancan flour, 0.74/raisin, and 0.99/tobacco moth. The weights of eggs required in 3½pints of food for balanced cultures were: almond and tobacco moths 340 mg, dried-fruit and Mediterranean flour moths 620 mg, Indian-meal moth 110 mg, and raisin moth 250 mg. Eggs were placed in the 1st half-pint of food at the bottom of culture jars. Pupation sites were made from 115-inch sections of B-fluted corrugated cardboard rolled tight, taped, and cut into ¾ inch rolls. When preparing new cultures of almond and raisin moths, 3 rolls were put on food. Four rolls were used for Indian-meal moths. Acceptable pupation sites were prepared for dried-fruit and Mediterranean flour moths by opening a roll of paper and circling the strip inside each jar after adding 3 pints of food. Then ½ pint of food was poured into the center of the circle. The tobacco moth required a strip of pupation paper inside each jar plus 2 rolls of paper on food. Pupation papers removed from cultures when adults first appeared were cleaned and placed in emergence jars. Almond moths appeared on the 23rd day, and raisin moths on the 25th day. A 2nd set of 2 rolls of paper was exposed for 7 days. Indian-meal moths were seen on the 21st day and tobacco moths on the 35th day. Additional papers were not used. Mediterranean flour moths appeared on the 32nd day. A 2nd paper made from a full roll was left for 11 or 12 days, and a 3rd paper made from ½ roll was exposed for 9 or 10 days. Dried-fruit moths appeared on the 35th day, and a 2nd paper made from ½ roll was left for 9 or 10 days. The same size strips, each exposed for 7 days, were used for the 3rd and 4th pupation papers. Moths were removed from emergence jars at 2- and 3-day intervals. Counts of adults showed an average yield per culture of 2188 almond, 901 dried-fruit, 1078 Mediterranean flour, 2547 Indian-meal, 2104 raisin, and 1365 tobacco moths from pupation papers.