Evaluating Penetration Ability of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Larvae into Multilayer Polypropylene Packages

Abstract

The larvae of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), can invade or penetrate packaging materials and infest food products. Energy bars with three polypropylene packaging types were challenged with eggs (first instars), third instars, and fifth instars of P. interpunctella to determine package resistance at 28 °C and 65% r.h. The packing types were also challenged with two male and two female pupae of P. interpunctella under similar conditions in order to determine which package provided the greatest protection against larval penetration. Samples infested with eggs, third instars, and pupae were evaluated after 21 days and 42 days to count the number of larvae, pupae, and adults found inside the packages. Packages challenged with fifth instars were observed after 21 days to count the number of larvae, pupae, and adults inside each package. The number and diameter of the holes were determined in each package, followed by the amount of damage sustained to the energy bar. Third and fifth instars showed a higher tendency to penetrate all of the packaging types. First instars showed a reduction in package penetration ability compared with third and fifth instars. The increase in exposure time resulted in an increase in the damage sustained to the energy bars. Among packaging types, the thickest package (Test A) was most resilient to penetration by all of the larval stages. In conclusion, energy bar manufacturers need to invest more effort into improving packaging designs, creating thicker gauge films, or advancing odor barrier technology, in order to prevent penetration and infestation by P. interpunctella larvae.

Repellent efficacy of essential oils and plant extracts againstTribolium castaneumandPlodia interpunctella

“…2005; Liu & Ho 1999; Scheff et al . 2018). For instance, T. castaneum has been reported to be one of the most common insects attacking cocoa beans globally (Abdullahi et al .…”

Full-Length Multi-Barcoding: DNA Barcoding from Single Ingredient to Complex Mixtures

“…In the CO1 amplicons of the Eriocheir sinensis (FH) and JHC (DNA mixture), several reads were identified as Philodina roseola [53], which is often used in crab breeding and is considered as an endogenous species. In contrast, in a few reads from exogenous animal species, such as Plodia interpunctella [54], an insect commonly seen in storage spots, and Tortricidae sp. [55,56], a class of harmful insects in agriculture field, was found in the powders.…”

Effect of Pheromones, Plant Volatiles and Spinosad on Mating, Male Attraction and Burrowing of Cadra cautella (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

“…It has also been documented that C. cautella larvae can penetrate through a variety of packing materials, such as cellophane, polyethylene, paper material, polyvinylchloride and polypropylene films [80][81][82]. P. interpunctella, a closely related lepidopteran species that shares certain behavioural characteristics with C. cautella [16] is also able to penetrate through polyethylene [83,84], but this ability differs with the age of larvae [81,82,85] and the thickness of material [82,85]. By contrast, larvae of P. interpunctella and Trogoderma variabile Ballion (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) cannot penetrate through methoprene-treated foil packaging [84].…”

“…P. interpunctella, a closely related lepidopteran species that shares certain behavioural characteristics with C. cautella [16] is also able to penetrate through polyethylene [83,84], but this ability differs with the age of larvae [81,82,85] and the thickness of material [82,85]. By contrast, larvae of P. interpunctella and Trogoderma variabile Ballion (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) cannot penetrate through methoprene-treated foil packaging [84]. Some other studies have revealed that the few warehouse beetle T. variabile larvae that were able to penetrate methoprene-treated foil experienced deformities in the adult stage [86].…”