Cycle and demographic parameters of Ephestia cautella Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on shea kernels. Psyche: A Journal of Entomology

---

Résumé

Ephestia cautella W. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is an insect pest associated with shea kernels that causes signifcant damage to stored products. In Burkina Faso, no study has been conducted to assess the biological efects on E. cautella after exposure to shea kernels, and therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate this. Te tests were conducted at the Laboratory of Fundamental and Applied Entomology at the “Universit´e Joseph KI-ZERBO,” where the average temperature and humidity were 27.5°C and 46.7%, respectively. Tirty pairs from zero to one-day-old E. cautella were evaluated to determine the reproductive potential of the females and to assess the de velopmental time of the species on shea kernels. Mated females had an average weight of 16mg and length of 11.1mm and lived 8.9days. Males had an average weight of 9.3mg and length of 8.7mm and lived 16.9days. Each female laid around 155 eggs in 4days for a hatching rate of 94.6% andan emergencerateof56.7% (80.7individuals/female). Te frst-generation ofspring was composed of 61.2% females and 38.8% males. Te egg incubation period was 4days, the larval development period was 55days, and the pupal period was 12days for a total average of 71days. Te population of E. cautella doubles in size in 6.8days for a generation time of 76.3days. Te knowledge of the biological parameters of this moth represents a major asset in the development of a control strategy.

Mots-clés

biology; Burkina Faso; Ephestia cautella; shea kernel