Assessing Different Artificial Diets to Improve the Life History Parameters of the Almond Moth, Ephestia cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different compositions of poultry-based artificial diets on the biological and morphometric parameters of the almond moth, Ephestia cautella . Three artificial diets (ADs) were prepared, where the complete diet (AD1) consisted of a bird diet, poultry feed, brown wheat flour, glycerin, and brewer’s yeast. The other two tested diets were poultry-feed-deficient (AD2) and brewer’s yeast-deficient (AD3—control). The tested parameters were differences in the length and weight of eggs, larvae, and pupae, larval developmental duration, adult reproductive period, fecundity, and fertility. The results showed significant differences in larval developmental period, female longevity, life span, reproductive parameters, and morphometric measurements among the tested diets. The life span was distinctly longer (40.38 ± 0.81 days) when the larvae were reared on a poultry feed-deficient diet (AD2), while a shorter lifespan (29.93 ± 0.33 and 32.17 ± 0.61 days) was recorded when larvae were reared on a complete diet (AD1) and brewer’s yeast-deficient diet (AD3), respectively. The complete diet (AD1), composed of bird diet, poultry feed, brown wheat flour, glycerin, and brewer’s yeast with (2:2:2:1:1) ratios, resulted in the shortest larval and pupal duration and average life span, as well as the highest fertility percentage. The highest fecundity (eggs/female: 366.77 ± 9.61) was recorded on AD3, while fertility reached almost 100% on AD1. The sex ratio was recorded as equal for both diets AD1 and AD3, while a male-biased sex ratio was recorded for AD2. Similarly, the morphometric data showed increased weight and sizes of eggs, larvae, and pupae when provided with complete (AD1) and brewer’s yeast-deficient diets (AD3). The results signified the importance of poultry feed and brewer’s yeast in AD1 for the mass rearing of E . cautella .