Biology of Selected Rice Pests on an Artificial Diet

Abstract

Selected lepidopterous pests of rice were allowed to develop on an artificial diet originally intended for the striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis. Life history of these pests was monitored and recorded daily. Five stem borer species namely, Chilo suppressalis, Sesamia inferens, Chilo auricilius, Scirpophaga incertulas and Scirpophaga innotatta, two armyworm species namely Spodoptera mauritia acronyctoides, Mythimna separata and the greenhorned caterpillar Melanitis leda ismene were tested for survival, larval and pupal development, and adult emergence. Of the stem borer species, C. suppressalis, S. inferens, and C. auricilius had high survival, larval and pupal development, and emergence of adults. S. incertulas and S. innotatta had no survival in this diet. The two armyworm species also had high survival and adult emergence. The greenhorned caterpillar M. leda ismene had relatively low survival.