Experimental analysis of dietary influences on growth and survival of rice moth (Cocyra cephalonica Stainton)

The current study examined the influence of various diets T1 (rice), T2 (maize), T3 (sorghum) and T4 (mixture of sorghum, maize, rice) on the biology of Corcyra cephalonica. The results indicates that sorghum exhibited the maximum in fecundity (302.30 eggs), ovipositional period (5 days), incubation period (4.00 days), egg hatchability (96%), adult emergence (88%), male adult longevity (12.33 days), female longevity (13.33 days) and growth index (1.99). Also, the shortest durations for the larval period (32.33 days), pupal period (9 days), and total development period (44 days) were observed on sorghum. Based on the present data and statistical analysis, sorghum serves as the optimal diet for C. cephalonica. However, in cases of unavailability or limited quantities of sorghum, a mixture of sorghum, rice, and maize can be utilized.