Comparative Population Growth of the Psocid Liposcelis yunnaniensis (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) on Different Diets

In this study, we investigated the population growth of the Liposcelis yunnaniensis (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) feeding on ten different diets. Out of the ten diets, eight were made of plain cereals namely wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), corn (Zea mays L.), barley (Hordeum vulgar L.), oats (Avena sativa L.), rice (Oryza sative L.), and sorghum (Sorghum bicolour L.) while two were the artificial diets named Nayak wheat diet and Universal diet. The population growth was recorded as corn > wheat > universal diet > hulled barley > rice (hulls intact) > barley (hulls intact) > sorghum > Nayak wheat diet > oats > hulled rice. After 32 d culture, the initial 5 psocids developed to the populations as 41.8 ± 4.26, 41.5 ± 4.09 and 39.1 ± 7.64 on corn, wheat and universal diet, respectively. Meanwhile, psocids feeding on Nayak wheat diet, oats and hulled rice had significantly lower populations with 25.6 ± 2.42, 22.5 ± 3.09 and 13.6 ± 2.36 respectively. Rice and barley were included in the diets with and without hulls to see their effect on population growth. In case of barley, hulls had no significant effect on population growth while rice with hulls had significantly higher populations than rice alone. This study has confirmed the relative level of suitability of different cereals for this species when damaged. We have described a method to get the uniform age adults that can be helpful in research experiments.