Studies on the biology and host preference of the angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (olivier)

Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) is one of the most destructive pests of stored rice in India. Laboratory experiments were carried out during 2009–2010 in the Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Imphal to study the biology of S. cerealella and to assess the host preference of the pest on commonly grown local rice varieties/cultivars. Studies on the biology on susceptible paddy var. KD 2-6-3 (Leimaphou) revealed that the incubation period ranged from 5.98 to 6.41 days with mean duration of 6.23± 0.07 days and larval period ranged from 18.57 to 20.41 days with a mean of 19.45±0.97 days. The mean pupal period was 8.58±0.08 days, ranging from 8.27 to 8.82 days. The mean adult longevity was 3.62±0.31, ranging from 3.33 to 4.31 days. The duration of life cycle varied from 36.97 to 38.94 days with mean duration of 37.88±0.08 days. Fecundity was 100.57±12.97 eggs/female ranging from 96.9 to 104.1 eggs/female. Among the seventeen commonly grown local rice varieties/cultivars, Matamphou was found to be the most resistant closely followed by KD 5-3-14.