Growth and Development of the Indian Meal Moth, Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Phycitidae), Under Laboratory Mass-Rearing Conditions1

Abstract

A standard rearing procedure developed for Indian meal moths, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), yielded mature, 16-mg larvae 13 days after eggs were deposited. Average weight during a 6-day pupal period was 10 mg. The newly emerged female moths weighed 11-12 mg but males weighed only 8-9 mg. Adults of both sexes declined in weight as they aged.