Release-recapture estimates of the population density of Ephestia cautella (Walker) in a commercial peanut warehouse

Seasonal trends in adult Ephestia (= Cadra) cautella (Walker) population density in an in-shell peanut storage facility were estimated from suction trap catches adjusted for recapture rates. Recapture rates the 1st day after release were 7% of females and 20% of males in an unstocked warehouse and 31% of males in a stocked warehouse; total recoveries were 11, 32 and 50%, respectively. Mating frequencies were generally between 46 and 75%. However, low mating frequencies (21–35%) during periods of low population density could have been partially due to the trapping of males.

Every 4 weeks the E. cautella population increased roughly two-fold in the unstocked ware-house (scattered peanuts remaining) and 37-fold in the stocked warehouse. Since breeding was continuous, generations overlapped.