GAMMA IRRADIATION AND REARING DIETS EFFECTS ON LARVAL GROWTH RATE, THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE REPRODUCTION OF Lasioderma serricorne F

The effect of different diets (wheat flour, garlic , aniseed and cumin) and gamma irradiation on the larval growth rate, the development and the reproduction of l. serricorne (f) were investigated. newly hatched larvae were irradiated by dosages 20, 40 and 60 gy. there was variation of weight gain, feeding period and growth rate of larvae according to the effect of type of food and the dosage of gamma ray. when larvae were fed on aniseed , the highest growth rate was recorded. there is an inverse relationship between, the larval growth rate and doses of gamma irradiation. also the feeding period increased as the dose increased form 0 – 60 gy in all types of diets. larval irradiation as newly hatched induced a reduction in percent pupation and adult emergence progressively as the dose was increased. the reduction reached maximum , when larvae were fed on garlic, while reached its minimum on aniseed. fecundity , fertility and longevity of the resulling adults were gradually reduced with the increase of the dose.