Spatial analysis of changes in Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) distribution depending on diets

Plodia interpunctella is a globally important insect pest that infests stored food products. Infestation may cause a substantial increase in economic costs for pest control and entails quality loss and dissatisfaction of consumers. The aim of this study was to predict the potential distribution of P. interpunctella feeding on four different diets (rice bran, vegetables, wheat bran, or walnuts) using a CLIMEX model and provide basic data for the storage and management of processed food products. To estimate the CLIMEX parameter of P. interpunctella feeding on rice bran, the developmental rate at different temperatures was tested, resulting in a lower developmental threshold and the degree days of 12.5 °C and 461 DD, respectively. In the spatial analysis, the climatic suitability of P. interpunctella feeding on rice bran was the highest when compared to other diets and particularly higher than that of walnuts in 23.3% of the total area. Our results are expected to provide basic data for the management of P. interpunctella based on species distribution modeling, which, in our study, produced different predicted distribution patterns based on diet and climate. •P. interpunctella development with rice bran by temperatures was experimented.•Lower threshold temperature and degree days with rice bran were 12.5 °C and 461 DD.•Change of P. interpunctella distributions by diets were predicted by using CLIMEX.•Potential distribution feeding on rice bran was predicted to be the largest.•Climatic suitability with walnuts was lower than that with rice bran by 23.3%.