Evaluation of Different Diets for Rearing Cocoa Moth, Ephestia cautella (Walker) [Lepidoptera: Pyralidae ].

The study was conducted in the laboratory at 282″C and 755% RH to evaluate different diets for rearing cocoa moth, Ephestia cautella (Walker). so as to facilitate mass production of the insect for biological study. The diets were: (A) cocoa powder (100%). (B) wheat flour (100%). (C) wheat germ ( 100%). (D) cocoa powder + yeast (90: 10). (E) wheat germ yeast (90:10). (F) cocoa powder + wheat Dour (50:50), (G) cocoa powder + wheat germ (50:50). (II) cocoa powder+ wheat flour + glucose (45:45: 10). (1) cocoa powder+ wheat germ + yeast (45:45: 10). (.I) cocoa powder + wheat flour + honey (45:45: 10), (K) cocoa powder+ wheat germ + glucose (45:45:10). and (L) cocoa powder + wheat flour + wheat germ + glucose (30:30:30: 10). All diets permitted reasonable development of E. cautella. but diets E and H. tended to be adequate. More eggs were laid by the moths reared on diets E (266.7 eggs) and H (253.8 eggs) compared with other diets. However. the differences among diets E. C. D. H. K. and L as well as the differences among diets H. A. B. C. D. K. and L were due to random variation. Eggs from moths reared on diet H were the most viable (86.0%) while those from moths reared on diet K were the least viable (66.0%). The shortest developmental duration and the highest percentage of adult emergence were in diet L. Moths reared on diet F took 10 days longer to complete development and adult emergence was 15.0% lower. Longevity of male and female moths (mated or unmated) was influenced by the diet on which they were reared.