STUDIES ON THE BIOLOGY OF SUGARCANE EARLY SHOOT BORER, CHILO INFUSCATELLUS SNELLEN UNDER IN VITRO AND IN VIVO CONDITIONS IN NORTH COASTAL REGION OF ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA

摘要

Studies on the biology of early shoot borer on bean based artificial diet (in vitro) under laboratory conditions during 2008-09 revealed that the ESB moth laid eggs on the ventral surface of the leaf, close to the midrib. The fecundity of female ranged from 368 to 384 and the incubation period ranged from 4.0 to 4.1 days. The larva passed through four moults with five instars and the total larval period ranged from 16.0 to 16.3 days. Pupation occurred in the outermost leaf sheath in a silken cocoon and the pupal period varied from 6.3 to 6.6 days. Longevity of male and female moths varied from 3.5 to 3.6 and 4.0 to 4.2 days, respectively. The sex ratio of male : female was 1:2.28. The total life cycle was completed in 30.2 to 30.7 days. The peak period of activity of the pest was observed from March to May. The present studies clearly indicated that the biology of ESB when reared on bean based artificial diet (in vitro) was not significantly different from the biology on the plant (in vivo) and the artificial diet can be used for rearing ESB under in vitro conditions.