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Effects of Temperature on the Development of Ephestia cautella (Walker)

(Pyralidae: Lepidoptera): A Case Study for its Possible Control Under Storage
Conditions

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Pakistan J. Zool., vol. 45(6), pp. 1573-1578, 2013

Effects of Temperature on the Development of Ephestia cautella

(Walker) (Pyralidae: Lepidoptera): A Case Study for its Possible
Control Under Storage Conditions
Abdulrahman S. Aldawood, Khawaja Ghulam Rasool, Abdullah Hamad Alrukban, Alan Soffan,
Mureed Husain, Koko Dwi Sutanto and Muhammad Tufail
Economic Entomology Research Unit, Department of Plant Protection, College of Food and Agriculture
Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Abstract.- Ephestia cautella (Walker) is a serious pest of dates both in the field and under storage conditions.
The control of stored product pests and especially those of food products by manipulating temperature would be the
best and safe choice. In this study, we examined the effects of temperature on developmental traits of E. cautella under
laboratory conditions. For this study, newly hatched E. cautella larvae were reared at 25°C and 35°C, with 65 ± 5%
relative humidity and a photoperiod of 15:9 (L:D). Biological parameters studied were: number and duration of larval
instars; survival rate of larvae, pupae, and adults; total life span; and fecundity and fertility. Temperature had a
significant impact on E. cautella development. At 5°C, there was 100% mortality; eggs failed to hatch, and no larval
or pupal survival was observed. On the other hand, E. cautella pupated after five larval instars at 25°C while six
instars were observed at 35°C. The larval period significantly increased at 35°C. However, total lifespan of both sexes
was considerably longer at 25°C. Of the three temperatures studied, 25°C was highly favorable for fecundity, egg
hatchability, and overall survival of all life stages. Complete mortality at 5°C indicated that storage at lower
temperatures can prevent the storage losses inflicted by E. cautella.

Key Words: Ephestia cautella, developmental traits, temperature, dates storage.

INTRODUCTION if appropriate control measures are not applied.

Under ordinary storage conditions, 4-5
overlapping generations of Ephestia cautella have
Saudi Arabia leads the world in date palm been observed each year and, the duration of each
(Phoenix dactylifera L.) production; the country generation depends on the season (Hussain and
grows more than 400 different date palm cultivars, Khaiyoon, 1966; Kamel et al., 1976). The longevity
with an annual date production of 700,000 tons of all developmental stages is highly subjective to
(Alabdulhadi et al., 2004). According to the FAO the temperature, relative humidity, and availability
(Food and Agriculture Organization of the United of food (Subramanyam and Hagstrum, 1993). In E.
Nations) report, Saudi dates production was second cautella, a negative correlation exists between the
third in 2011 (FAOSTAT, 2011). Date palm tree eggs incubation period and temperature and relative
and its fruit are vulnerable to several insect pests, humidity (Shoukry et al., 1978). Reproduction of
both in the field and in storage. Ephestia cautella Plodia interpunctella, another pyralid moth, was
moths are serious pests of dried plant materials and optimized at 25-30ºC, with an oviposition period of
have been recorded from cereal grains and their 18 days or less (Arbogast, 2007), and also its
products, dried fruit, nuts, oilseeds, pulses, and fecundity and sex-ratio was determined (Hamed et
cacao (Richards and Thomson, 1932; Arbogast et al., 2010).
al., 2005). Previous reports provided information on
E. cautella causes substantial damage to dates effects of photoperiod and temperature on E.
held in storage (Al-Zadjali et al., 2006), with an cautella diapause (Bell and Bowley, 1980), effect of
average infestation rate of 16.8% (Al-Mjeni et al., diet quality on its fecundity and longevity (Al-
1983). However, the fruit losses may reach to 100% Taweel et al., 1995), and oviposition behavior and
____________________________ reproduction (Lum, 1977; Olsson and Anderbrant,
* Corresponding author: [email protected] 2005). Information on developmental traits of this
0030-9923/2013/0006-1573 $ 8.00/0 pest as affected by temperature and relative
Copyright 2013 Zoological Society of Pakistan
1574 A.R.S. ALDAWOOD ET AL.

humidity, especially under Saudi storage conditions, absence of dark testes (Boles and Marzke, 1966).
is not available. The diet was changed at each molting and 20, 30,
The objective of this study was to determine 40, 60, and 75 mg diet was provided to 1st to 6th
the effects of temperatures on developmental traits instar larvae, respectively.
of E. cautella. This information will be useful in Survival rates of larvae, developmental
devising an effective and efficient strategy for E. period and survival rates of pupae were also
cautella population management that will help to calculated. Pupae emerged at 25ºC were exposed to
minimize the losses of dates in date storage 5ºC for 60 days and then transferred back to 25ºC
warehouse. for 90 days to observe the adult emergence.
The newly emerged adults (both male and
MATERIALS AND METHODS female) were transferred to plastic containers in
pairs as described above for fecundity analysis.
E. cautella adults were obtained from a mass Pairs were kept in these containers for their entire
culture maintained at Economic Entomology adult lives. The number of eggs laid each day and
Research Unit (EERU) laboratory. Newly emerged the total number of eggs laid by each female during
adults of E. cautella were collected and 50 male- her life span were recorded. Eggs laid each day were
female pairs were transferred to plastic containers transferred to the petri dishes lined with moist filter
(77 mm diameter, 146 mm deep, one container per paper, and kept at 25ºC to observe the hatching
pair) containing cotton swabs soaked with 10% percentage. Pre-oviposition, oviposition, and post-
sugar solution (Shoukry, 1978). The mouth of the oviposition periods were also recorded. Number of
container was wrapped with a plastic mesh (Bell and emerging males and females was recorded to
Bowley, 1980) using a rubber band and inverted on determine the sex ratio.
a loosely affixed lid. Eggs laid were collected daily Data were analyzed using the analysis of
from the lid and individually transferred to rearing variance (ANOVA) PROC GLM procedure in SAS
cups (65 mm diameter, 32 mm deep) using a No. 0 (SAS, 2009), and means were separated using least
brush. Each cup was provided with 20 mg of significant difference (LSD) (P = 0.05). It is to be
artificial diet (each kilogram of diet contained 375 g noted that comparisons were made only between the
broiler diet, 375 g layer diet, and 250 g wheat flour) data originated from 25 and 35ºC as values obtained
in 100 ml glycerin and kept at 25ºC with 65 ± 5% at 5ºC were all zero.
relative humidity (RH), and a photoperiod of 15:9 h
(L:D) in an incubator until hatching. RESULTS
Initially, 1,000 eggs were incubated for
hatching and observed daily. Developmental traits Larval development
of E. cautella were investigated at three Temperature had a significant effect on the
temperatures: 5, 25 and 35ºC. Eggs hatching on the larval development of E. cautella (Fig. 1). No larvae
same day (at 25ºC) were divided into three groups of E. cautella could survive at 5°C. In all cases,
(for 5°C, 25°C and for 35ºC), each with four larval activity was ceased within a few hours of
replicates and each containing 40 neonate larvae. exposure to 5°C. Larvae were exposed to 5°C for 60
Larvae of each group were transferred to their days, their bodies shriveled and changed to grayish
respective temperatures in incubators fixed at in color; no signs of life were observed. Larval
65±5% RH and a photoperiod of 15:9 h (L:D). Since development at 25°C were significantly longer than
the first-instar larvae could not survive at 5°C larvae those at 35°C (F = 4.22, df = 1,174, P = 0.04; F =
of each instar were exposed to 5ºC (after having 24.05, df = 1,174, P < 0.0001; F = 20.94, df = 1,174,
been reared at 25°C). Larval development was P < 0.0001; F = 40.20, df = 1,174, P < 0.0001; and F
observed in terms of (a) duration of each larval = 149.82, df = 1,174, P < 0.0001 for first through
instar (in days) and (b) the total number of larval fifth instar, respectively). E. cautella larvae passed
instars. Also, sex ratio was determined on day 3 of through five instars at 25°C and six instars at 35°C.
the fifth instar larvae based on the presence or Total larval duration was significantly longer (Fig.
 EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF EPHESTIA CAUTELLA (WALKER) 1575

2) at 35°C (F = 45.07, df = 1,174, P < 0.0001) than significantly affected by the temperature (Fig. 4).
at 25°C. The difference in adult’s longevity was observed
. under different temperatures. A significantly higher
longevity was observed in both males and females at
25°C as compared to 35°C (females: F = 35.57, df =
1, 64, P < 0.0001; males: F = 58.88, df = 1, 60, P <
0.0001). However no gender-specific difference in
longevity was detected at the same temperature
(25°C: F = 1.43, df = 1, 69, P = 0.24; 35°C: F =
1.37, df = 1, 55, P = 0.25).

Fig. 1. Effect of temperature on average

duration of each larval instar of Ephestia
cautella. Larvae underwent five instars at 25°C
and six at 35°C. Within each instar, columns
with different letters above are significantly
different (P<0.05).

Fig. 3. Effect of temperature on pupal

duration in Ephestia cautella. For each
temperature, columns with different letters are
significantly different (P<0.05).

Fig. 2. Effect of temperature on average

larval duration of Ephestia cautella. Columns
with different letters are significantly different
(P<0.05).

Pupal development
Pupal development was significantly affected
by the temperature, the developmental differences
Fig. 4. Effect of temperature on average
were observed even in the gender (males and adult life span of Ephestia cautella. In each
females) and at the same temperature (Fig. 3). category, columns with different letters are
However, the pupae (emerged from larvae reared at significantly different (P<0.05)
25°C) when exposed to 5°C for 60 days were not
able to emerge as adults, and same was observed Total lifespan
when they were transferred back to 25°C for 90 At 25°C, E. cautella lived significantly longer
days. Pupae at 25°C took significantly longer to (F = 28.62, df = 1,123, P < 0.0001) as compared to
emerge as adults (females: F = 7.40, df = 1, 74, P = 35°C. A similar trend was observed when lifespans
0.008; males: F = 80.36, df = 1, 75 P < 0.0001) as for females and males were calculated separately
compared to the those reared at 35°C. (females: F = 12.04, df = 1, 52, P = 0.0011; males: F
= 19.55, df = 1, 76, P < 0.0001). No significant
Adult longevity difference (25°C: F = 0.48, df = 1, 67, P = 0.49;
Longevity of adult E. cautella was 35°C: F = 0.00, df = 1, 61, P=0.97) was detected
1576 A.R.S. ALDAWOOD ET AL.

between female and male life spans within each Egg incubation period
temperature treatment (Fig. 5). Eggs hatching was observed on day 2 after
being laid at both 25°C and 35°C that continued
Fecundity and fertility until day 7 (at 25°C) (Fig. 8). At 25°C, egg hatching
Temperature also had a significant effect on was significantly much higher on day 4 (F = 42.77,
female fecundity and fertility of E. cautella (Fig. 6). df = 5, 48, P <0.0001), whereas at 35°C, egg
Both fecundity and fertility were significantly hatching was significantly more on day 3 (F =
higher (fecundity: F = 103.81, df = 1, 40, P < 19.36, df = 4, 40 P <0.0001).
0.0001; fertility: F = 13.30, df = 1, 40, P = 0.0008)
at 25°C than at 35°C.

Fig. 5. Effect of temperature on average

life span of Ephestia cautella. In each category, Fig. 7. Effect of temperature on average
columns with different letters are significantly pre-oviposition, oviposition and post
different (P<0.05). oviposition periods of Ephestia cautella. Within
each category, columns with different letters are
significantly different (P<0.05).

Fig. 6. Effect of temperature on average

fecundity and fertility of Ephestia cautella. At
each category, columns with different letters are
significantly different (P<0.05). Fig. 8. Effect of temperature on the egg
incubation period of Ephestia cautella. For each
day, columns with different letters are
Oviposition period significantly different (P<0.05).
There were no significant differences
observed between pre-oviposition (F = 0.12, df = 1, Survival
16, P = 0.73) and post-oviposition periods (F = 1.21, Survival of the E. cautella was also
df = 1, 16, P = 0.29) at both 25°C and 35°C (Fig. 7). significantly affected by the temperature (Table I).
However, females at 25°C laid eggs for significantly No E. cautella could survive at 5°C while a
longer periods (oviposition period: F = 6.44, df = 1, significantly high survival was observed at 25°C (to
16, P = 0.02) as compared to females at 35°C. pupae: F = 10.24, df = 1, 6, P = 0.02; to adults: F =
 EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF EPHESTIA CAUTELLA (WALKER) 1577

6.78, df = 1, 6, P = 0.04) as compared to that of grown E. cautella larvae to 0°C for five days and to
35°C. 5°C for 32 days, and all failed to develop into
pupae. Since the developmental threshold
Table I.- Effect of temperature on survival of Ephestia
temperatures for Lepidoptera are reported to be
cautella. >13°C (Ali et al., 1990), storing dates below
threshold temperatures should be safe.
Temperatures Survival of Ephestia cautella at different Of the temperatures studied, 25°C was the
temperatures best suited temperature for E. cautella rapid larval
Larvae Larvae Adults
introduced pupated emerged
growth, survival, fecundity, and fertility. A higher
temperature, 35°C, was less conducive to E.
25°C 40 29.75±1.50a 27.25±1.75a cautella development. Tuli et al. (1966) also
35°C 40 24.00±1.00b 19.75±2.29b recorded a considerable reduction in the fecundity
of E. cautella reared at 35°C. Bell (1975) found that
Means within a column followed by the same letter are not
significantly different α = 0.05 E. elutella (Hűbner) and E. kuehniella (Zeller) were
unable to reproduce when reared at 30°C. Lum
Table II.- Male to female ratio of Ephestia cautella reared
(1977) reported that eupyrene sperm development
at different temperatures. was inhibited, resulting in low fecundity, in Plodia
interpunctella (Hűbner) when pupae and pre-pupae
Temperature Males Females were exposed to 35°C for about three days. Johnson
et al. (1992) reported that no progeny resulted from
25°C 0.55 0.45
35°C 0.49 0.51
adults reared at 35°C, regardless of diet. In the
present study, 35°C prolonged the larval
developmental time with addition of an instar and
reduced the survival rate, fecundity, and fertility.
Sex ratio Kamel et al. (1976) found 6-8 larval instars in E.
The sex ratio was determined for E. cautella cautella at an average temperature of 32.1°C,
reared at both 25°C and 35°C. Male: female ratio whereas more than 60% of the larvae had six instars.
was 0.55:0.45 and 0.49:0.51 at 25°C and 35°C, The findings of the present study
respectively (Table II). conclusively demonstrated that (1) temperature had
a significant effect on development of E. cautella;
DISCUSSION (2) exposure to 5°C resulted in total mortality of all
development stages of E. cautella (3) 25°C was an
Ephestia cautella is a major pest of stored optimum temperature for E. cautella development
food products including dates, a highly valued while 35°C was less favorable. Fields (1992) has
annual fruit which is stored after harvesting for reported three temperature zones for any organism:
processing and marketing. The control of stored optimum (25-33°C), where the species’ fitness is the
product pests and especially those of food products highest in terms of development and number of
by manipulating temperature would be the best and offspring; suboptimum (13-25°C), where
safe choice. Our results indicated that E. cautella is temperature is below the optimum zone but where
greatly influenced by temperature, as previously species can still complete their life cycle; lethal
shown by other scientists (Shoukry et al., 1978; (5°C and below), where temperature is below the
Subramanyam and Hagstrum, 1993). suboptimum zone and kill the organism over time.
There was no development or survival Thus our results unequivocally suggest that use of
observed at 5°C of any larval instar or pupal stage. low temperatures (5°C) can be the best technique
Larvae and pupae exposed to 5°C for 60 days were for the control E. cautella during prolonged date
transferred to 25°C for 90 days but could not storage. Low temperature is probably the most
recover, demonstrating that they were not in cold- significant solitary element in making long term
induced diapause. Burges (1956) also exposed half- storage possible and economical.
1578 A.R.S. ALDAWOOD ET AL.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT FAOSTAT, 2011. FAO Statistical Yearbook 2011. Agricultural

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(KACST) Project No. AR 28-86. mites with extreme temperatures. J. Stored Prod. Res.,
28: 89-118.
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