تاثیر کیفیت رژیم غذایی در دوره لاروی روی برخی شاخص های زیستی بید غلات، Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), is one of the important pests of the stored grains, worldwide. However, because of facility of rearing and short life period, these insects are used in the mass rearing of Trichogramma spp. wasps as biological control agents. Studies showed that the larval food quality of Angoumois grain moths could even affects the percentage of Trichogramma adults, emerging from Angoumois grain moth eggs. Therefore, type of grains used as larval food, is one of the significant factors in the mass rearing of Angoumois grain moths. Different varieties of wheat and barley are used as larval food for mass rearing of these insects in different areas. In the present study, one maize variety and two barley varieties are used as different larval food quality and the effects on the average length of immature development, percentage of adult emergence, average lifespan of adults, average number of eggs laid and sex ratio are studied and compared. According to the results, different larval diets have different effects on the immature development and biological factors of the adults. Results from three larval diets indicated significant differences in the average length of immature development in the three treatments. The least average length of immature development was on barley var. Valfajr and most average length of immature development was on maize. However, the percentage of adults which emerged from barley var. Valfajr was significantly higher than the two other treatments and the least percentage of adult emergence was on maize. Comparing of sex ratio in adults emerged from the three treatments showed that in the two variety of barley the sex ratio was 1-1 but using maize leads to production of significantly more females than males. There were no statistically significant differences among the average number of eggs laid in the three treatments. Similarly, there were no statistically significant differences among the average lifespan of adult males which grow on the three different larval diets. Though, the average lifespan of adult females grow on maize was significantly higher than those grow on the two barley varieties. Totally, results revealed that among three examined larval diet, barley var. Valfajr was the best larval diet for mass rearing of Angoumois grain moths.