Evaluation of Different Rearing Media for Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton)

Abstract

To determine the suitable food media for the mass production of Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton), eleven types of food media viz., sorghum, pearlmillet, maize, coarse rice, wheat bran, rice husk, sorghum + rice husk (9:1), pearl millet + rice husk (9:1), pearl millet + rice husk + wheat bran (5:1:1), maize + rice husk (9:1) and rice + rice husk (9:1) were used for rearing. Observations were taken on average development period, percentage of moth emergence and weight of eggs. Food efficiency index (FEI) was calculated by dividing the product of percent emergence and egg weight by average development period. The FEI was highest in case of sorghum followed by pearlmillet, maize, pearlmillet + rice husk + wheat bran, sorghum + rice husk, wheat bran and rice, while in other food media it was extremely low.