Taxonomic Description, Distribution, and Control Measures of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner, 1813) in Kashmir Valley, India

Pyraloidea moths are economically important as the larvae of most species are pests to several crop plants both internally and externally viz. rice, maize, sugar cane, stored products, legumes, and etc. The larvae are often tabbed as leaf rollers, leaf miners, borers, leaf webbers, root feeders, and seed feeders. Plodia interpunctella is a moth belonging to the subfamily Phyctinae, family Pyralidae, in the order Lepidoptera. Hubner first scientifically described the species in 1857. The species is a severe pest of stored food products, mainly dry fruits including walnuts, almonds, and pistachios. In the present study, the pest outbreak of this species was reported from the industrial growth center of the Kashmir valley, damaging stored walnuts and kernels. Besides control measures, the life cycle of species was thoroughly monitored. To help with timely pest management, the taxonomic description, morphological characteristics, and pictures of larvae and mounted adults are provided as well.

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