COMPETITION BETWEEN THE PHYCITID MOTHS PLODIA-INTERPUNCTELLA (HUBN) AND EPHESTIA-CAUTELLA (WLK) IN GROUNDNUTS AND ON A LABORATORY DIET

Competition between Plodia interpunctella (Hubn.) and Ephestia cautella (Wlk.) was studied in groundnuts and in a limited amount of standard medium (maize meal, wheat bran and glycerol at the ratio of 8:8:1) (w/w) when the species were reared separately (conditions PI and EC), when one was added before the other (conditions P+E/2 and E+P/2) and when both were introduced together (condition PI/EC). Separately, each species was well maintained on the standard medium, while E. cautella was the better competitor in groundnuts under conditions E+P/2 and PI/EC. The results offer a possible explanation for the pest status and distribution of the two moths species in groundnuts and where their ranges overlap, especially in the tropics.