Comparative demography and population projection of Ephestia kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

The Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) and the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius) rank among the most destructive pests in food processing facilities worldwide. Ephestia kuehniella and C. maculatus may live in the same store simultaneously. To provide a comprehensive ecological based and cost effective control program, the life history and demographic parameters of the both stored product pests were studied at 25 ± 1°C, 60 ± 5% RH, and 16L:8D hours photoperiod. Moreover, population growth potential of the pests compared based on population projection. Life history and demographic parameters of both pests were analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. The results revealed that E. kuehniella had longer immature developmental time, shorter adult longevity, shorter reproduction period, higher fecundity, higher net reproduction rate, and lower intrinsic rate of increase in comparison with the cowpea weevil. The obtained results have been discussed in terms of developing appropriate management strategies against both pests in the storage.