Development and reproductive performance of rice moth Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in different rearing media

The study aimed to evaluate different rearing media for mass production of rice moth Corcyra cephalonica Stainton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) an important host of several bio-control agents. The development and reproductive performance of Corcyra was evaluated to twelve (12) different combinations of food containing maize, wheat, Italian millet and scented rice-alone and fortified with 3% dextrose and yeast. Results showed that the net reproductive rate; innate capacity for increase; number of hypothetical females; daily finite rate of increase; weekly multiplication; and potential fecundity were highest and true generation time and doubling time were shortest in Italian millet (alone/fortified). The performance was better in wheat alone (second to Italian millet) than its fortification with dextrose and yeast and also superior to maize and scented rice. Hence, Italian millet alone or fortified with 3% dextrose and yeast was the most suitable rearing media for mass production of Corcyra.