Development of Ephestia kuehniella (Zell.), Plodia interpunctella (Hbn.) and Corcyra cephalonica (Staint.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on kernels and wholemeals of Fagopyrum esculentum Moench and Triticum aestivum L

Three stored product moth pests, Ephestia kuehniella, Plodia interpunctella and Corcyra cephalonica were reared on the following five foods: whole buckwheat with pericarp, decorticated buckwheat, wheat vat. 'Centauto' (kernels), wholemeal wheat flour and whole buckwheat flour. Results showed that achenes of buckwheat with pericarp are a poor food for the development of these species. A low rate of survival to adulthood for E. kuehniella and P. interpunctella was recorded, with a considerable extension of post-embryonic development. Although the mandibles of larvae are strong, they have trouble in breaking the fibrous buckwheat pericarp. It was observed that when the seed was decorticated there was a higher percentage of adults emerged. The emergence of E. kuehniella began, according to the food given, 34-42 days after the eggs were laid. The susceptibility index (s.i.) of achenes without pericarp (s.i. 9.7) was higher than that observed on wheat (s.i. 8.6). The first P. interpunctella adults were found after 29 days on wheat and after 56 days on buckwheat with pericarp. The shortest mean period of development occurred on wheat (34 days) while the longest was on buckwheat with pericarp at 81 days. The highest susceptibility index was on kernels (s.i. 12.8), the lowest one was on buckwheat with pericarp (s.i. 2.3). C. cephalonica began to emerge, according to the food given, after 40-55 days. In this case, fewer adults were recorded from buckwheat with pericarp, but no significant differences among the means of emerged adults on wheat, wholemeal wheat flour and whole buckwheat flour were observed. The longest mean period of development was recorded on wholemeal wheat flour (72 days) while the shortest was on wheat kernels (58 days). The highest value for the susceptibility index was obtained for wheat kernels (s.i. 7.4) and the lowest one for buckwheat with pericarp (s.i. 4.5).