makes feeding more difficult. The caterpillars are cannibalistic; larvae will also eat eggs and other smaller larvae. Adults Adult almond moths do not eat during their short lifespan but will drink water if they have access to it. Parental care Oviposition Generally, adult female moths will oviposit around 200 eggs at a time. The timing and number of eggs oviposited has been shown to vary based on several factors, including temperature, humidity, access to water, and type of food source. Low temperatures delay oviposition, and low humidity or lack of access to water seems to reduce the number of eggs oviposited by any given female. Preferred food source upon which to oviposit may vary with the strain of almond moth. Typically, females will oviposit at night. Life history Life cycle The almond moth thrives best in warm, humid environments. The ideal temperature range for development is 30–32 degrees Celsius (86–90 degrees Fahrenheit), and the ideal humidity range is 70-80%. In optimal conditions, it takes about three and a half days for eggs to hatch, and the larvae go through five instars over a period ranging from 17 to 37 days. The pupal stages lasts around seven days in optimal temperature and humidity. Adult females live on average for ten days and adult males live for an average of six to seven days. Enemies Predators Xylocoris flavipes is a type of beetle which feeds preferentially on the eggs and early larval stages of the almond moth. Blattisocius tarsalis is a kind of mite which will feed on almond moth eggs throughout its life cycle, and has been considered as a mechanism for controlling infestations of the almond moth. Parasites A variety of species within the order Hymenoptera are parasites of the almond moth. Several parasites of the genus Trichogramma, including T. evanescens, T. cacoeciae, and T. brassicae are common among organisms in the order Lepidoptera and, as such, are known to parasitize almond moths. Trichogramma are very small wasps, and they will puncture the eggs of almond moths and leave their own progeny inside. These parasites will kill the larva inside and later emerge from the egg themselves. Other kinds of wasps, including Bracon hebetor and Venturia canescens, parasitize almond moth larvae in the later instars. Diseases Wolbachia is a type of bacteria which infects several types of invertebrates, including the almond moth. Wolbachia is transmitted from mother to offspring, as