Development of Cadra cautella (Walker), Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton), and Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera Pyralidae) on Triticum monococcum L., T. dicoccum Schrank ex Schubler, and T. spelta L.

Groups of 100 eggs (laid 6-24 hours previously) of Cadra cautella, Corcyra cephalonica, and Plodia interpunctella were reared on 30 g of spikelets or kernels of Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccum, and T. spelta in a conditioned room at 26 ± 1 °C, 70 ± 5 % r.h., and photoperiod 16:8 (L:D). A higher mean number of adults is observed when moths are reared on kernels, except for C. cephalonica on T. monococcum. The mean developmental time is longer with spikelets except when P. interpunctella is reared on T. monococcum. A low number of adults of the three species is observed on spikelets of T. dicoccum and T. spelta. In fact kernels are covered by glumes and inner glumes that hinder larvae feeding. The highest number of adults of C. cautella is observed on kernels of T. dicoccum (76.5 ± 7.8). Few adults of this species emerge from spikelets of T. dicoccum (4.7 ± 0.5) and T. spelta (4.5 ± 1.3). The mean developmental time is not significantly different among kernels (from 49.5 to 54.2 days) and among spikelets (from 61.5 to 66 days) of the different species of cereals. The highest number of C. cephalonica adults is observed on kernels and spikelets of T. monococcum and on kernels of T. dicoccum; numbers are not significantly different (from 78.5 to 79.7 adults). A lower mean number of adults is observed on spikelets of T. dicoccum (28.2 ± 1.2) and T. spelta (28.5 ± 2) with a longer mean developmental time, 96 ± 0.8 and 112.2 ± 3.2 days respectively. The shortest mean developmental time is observed on kernels of T. monococcum (54 ± 1.8). The highest mean number of adults of P. interpunctella is observed on kernels of T. dicoccum (71 ± 5.5) and of T. spelta (70 ± 2.2) with mean developmental times of 42 ± 0.8 and 36.7 ± 0.5 days respectively. Few individuals develop on T. dicoccum (5.2 ± 1.3) and T. spelta (2.2 ± 1.3) with mean developmental times of 59.2 ± 5.4 and 42.5 ± 0.6 days.