1Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (FAS), Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOADU), Bhubaneswar751029, Odisha, India
2Division of Crop Management, ICAR-Central Tobacco Research Institute, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India
*Email: reemabdullatifmoh1994@gmail.com (corresponding author)
Efficient mass rearing of the rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica) requires selecting a diet that fulfils the insect’s nutritional needs to optimize development and reproduction. This study evaluated ten grains- rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, kodo millet, foxtail millet, little millet, and proso millet- as potential rearing media under controlled conditions. Key biological parameters assessed included incubation period, larval and pupal durations, adult longevity, total life cycle, and female fecundity. Results demonstrated that maize, pearl millet, kodo millet, foxtail millet, and proso millet were the most suitable diets, yielding the shortest life cycles (males: 71.11-76.03 days; females: 66.97-72.57 days) and high fecundity (>400 eggs/ female). Sorghum and little millet showed moderate suitability, while wheat performed less efficiently. Rice and finger millet were the least favourable for rearing. These findings recommend maize, pearl millet, kodo millet, foxtail millet, and proso millet as optimal diets for rice moth mass production.
Corcyra cephalonica, life cycle, fecundity, seed properties, developmental period, rearing, millets, rice, wheat, maize, sorghum
