Comparative biology and susceptibility of Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) populations to a granulosis virus

LC50 values were determined for six populations (two laboratory and four wild-type) of Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), to peroral inoculations of a granulosis virus. Various biological parameters of the populations were measured to determine similarities or differences among the moth populations tested. A significantly (P 0.05) higher LC50 value was measured for two of the wild-type populations (one from the west coast and one from the east coast) compared with the others. These two populations also had significantly (P 0.05) longer developmental times. The response and developmental data obtained for the other four populations (two laboratory and two wild-type) were not significantly (P 0.05) different among them, but showed them to be more susceptible to the virus and with shorter developmental times compared with the two wild-types discussed above