Reactions of Some Varieties of Pearlmillet, Pennisetum glaucum (Linn.) R. Br. emend Stuntz. to Rice Moth, Corcyra cephalonica Staint.

Ten varieties of pearlmillet (RHB-173, RHB-177, MPMH-17, HHB-67, Pro Agro-9450, Pro Agro-9001, Pioneer 86 m 86, Pioneer 86 m 84, Pioneer 86 m 38 and Raj-171.) were evaluated for reaction to Corcyra cephalonica Staint. in the laboratory conditions. The adult emergence (F1), weight losses and susceptibility index in these varieties were ranged from 9.33-32.00, 10.44–31.69% and 2.77–6.82, respectively, the minimum in Pioneer 86 m 86 and maximum in Raj-171; other varieties were in the middle order. The seed damage recorded in different varieties ranged from 23.67–75.84%, the minimum in Pioneer 86 m 86 (23.67%), Pro Agro-9450 (25.55%) and Pro Agro-9001 (28.33%), these treatments were found at par each other. The Raj-171 was found to be badly infested (75.84% grain damage) which differed significantly over other varieties. The developmental period of the pest varied from 50.88–80.61 days in different varieties, minimum being in Raj-171 and maximum in Pioneer 86 m 86.

Reactions of Some Varieties of Pearlmillet, Pennisetum glaucum (Linn.) R. Br. emend Stuntz. to Rice Moth, Corcyra cephalonica Staint

Ten varieties of pearlmillet (RHB-173, RHB-177, MPMH-17, HHB-67, Pro Agro-9450, Pro Agro-9001, Pioneer 86 m 86, Pioneer 86 m 84, Pioneer 86 m 38 and Raj-171.) were evaluated for reaction to Corcyra cephalonica Staint. in the laboratory conditions. The adult emergence (F1), weight losses and susceptibility index in these varieties were ranged from 9.33-32.00, 10.44-31.69% and 2.77-6.82, respectively, the minimum in Pioneer 86 m 86 and maximum in Raj-171; other varieties were in the middle order. The seed damage recorded in different varieties ranged from 23.67-75.84%, the minimum in Pioneer 86 m 86 (23.67%), Pro Agro-9450 (25.55%) and Pro Agro-9001 (28.33%), these treatments were found at par each other. The Raj-171 was found to be badly infested (75.84% grain damage) which differed significantly over other varieties. The developmental period of the pest varied from 50.88-80.61 days in different varieties, minimum being in Raj-171 and maximum in Pioneer 86 m 86.

Performance of Trichogramma japonicum under field conditions as a function of the factitious host species used for mass rearing

Different factitious hosts were used to mass rear Trichogramma japonicum Ashmead in different parts of the globe because thorough details were lacking in both the laboratory and the field. The objective of this study was to compare, parasitoid, T. japonicum reared in different factitious hosts. Three commonly used factitious host eggs, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton), Ephestia kuehniella Zeller and Sitotroga cerealella Olivier were tested under laboratory conditions and then in the field over a yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulus (Walker) of rice. The highest parasitism by T. japonicum was observed on E. kuehniella eggs. The parasitoid’s highest emergence (88.99%) was observed on S. cerealella eggs at 24 h exposure, whereas at 48 h it was on E. kuehniella eggs (94.66%). Trichogramma japonicum females that emerged from E. kuehniella eggs were significantly long-lived. The days of oviposition by hosts and the host species were significant individually, but not their interaction. Higher proportions of flying T. japonicum were observed when reared on E. kuehniella and C. cephalonica eggs. Field results showed that T. japonicum mass-reared on E. kuehniella showed higher parasitism of its natural host, S. incertulus eggs. Hence, by considering these biological characteristics and field results, E. kuehniella could be leveraged for the mass rearing of quality parasitoids of T. japonicum in India, the Asian continent and beyond.

Parasitism of Trichogramma Pretiosum in Eggs of Corcyra Cephalonica on the Age of the Parasitoid and the Density of the Host

Several biological control programs use Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). The parasitism capacity and the functional response of T. pretiosum parasitizing eggs of Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were studied. To determine the parasitism capacity, females of the parasitoid were individualized, being offered to each female eggs from the host. Daily observations determined the number of parasitized eggs per female, accumulated percentage of parasitism, female longevity and percentage of parasitoid emergence. To establish the functional response, T. pretiosum females were individualized and offered C. cephalonica eggs. Number of parasitized eggs and percentage of adults’ emergence were evaluated, being calculated handling time (Th) and attack rate (a). On the first day of the parasitoid’s life there was parasitism in more than 80% of the host eggs, similar to the percentage of adult emergence throughout the life cycle, and the daily percentage of parasitism. The percentages of eggs of C. cephalonica parasitized were statistically different, with the quadratic model better describing the parasitoid-host relationship, with a positive value of 0.00594, since with the increase in the availability of eggs of C. cephalonica, parasitism was increased. The attack rate was approximately 0.00158, while the handling time of the host eggs was 0.6884 h.

Sistema de criação de duas espécies de percevejos predadores do gênero Xylocoris Dufour, 1831 e da presa alternativa Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton, 1866) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Anthocorid bugs presents attributes that make them promising agents of biological control. Several species can be reared in the laboratory for later release in the field and in greenhouses, and some of them also exhibit zoo-phytophagous feeding behavior, which favors maintenance in the environment, as occurs with Xylocoris afer (Reuter, 1884) and Xylocoris sordidus (Reuter, 1871). This work aimed to describe a method that optimize the rearing and multiplication in laboratory of Xylocoris spp. and their alternative prey Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton, 1866). The method was adapted replacing inflorescences of Bidens pilosa L., by rolls of hydrophilic cotton inserted in glass jars of 25,0 mL filled with water to maintain the humidity, which is essential to the embryonic development of the insect. The adaptations made to the rearing methods of these predators and the alternative prey have made the breeding of mainly predators more practical and effective.