Mass production of parasitoid host (Rice moth)

Corcyra cephalonica

1. Corcyra is a stored product pest an and best host for many egg and larval parasitoids.

2. This can be easily mass produced with cheaper investment.

Optimum conditions:

1. Temperature : 30 to 32 degree C.

2. Relative humidity : 70%.

3. Sex ratio : 1:1.

4. Storage period : 1 month (refrigerator)

Notes:

• Lifecycle of this moth is 1 month.

• Lifecycle will be longer during winter months.

• Male larvae have 7 instars and female have 8 instars.

• Eggs can be easily collected during day time.

PROCEDURE :

1.Preparation of rearing basins:

1. Take basins with 16 inch diameter.

2. Clean it in water and dry it in sunlight.

3. Wash it with 40% formaldehyde.

2.Preparation of cumbu media:

1. Sterlize broken cumbu grains at 100 degree C for 1 hour.

2. Let it cool.

3. Fill 2.5 kg grains per basins.

4. Add 100g broken groundnut kernal to each basins for protein supply.

5. Add 5g dry yeast to each basins.

6. Spray 0.01 to 0.5% streptomycin sulphate on each basin.

3.Inoculation of eggs:

1. Eggs should be purchased from reputed firm (1st time).

2. Sprinkle 0.5Cc of eggs over the media.

3. Cover the basin using khada cloth.

4.Handling of basin during larval development:

1. After 1 week we can observe larvae hatching out from the eggs.

2. Check the webbing and clumps formation in media (more the webbing , more the success).

3. Check the Gypolium problem (pest).

5.Handling of adults:

1. After emergence of adults , collect them using test tubes from the surface of khada cloths.

2. Transfer these adults to ovi-position chamber (2000 adults/ovi-position drums).

3. Note the number of eggs collected from every 1000 adults.

4. 2500 adults can be collected from each basins for 3 months.

COMMERCIAL UNITS

Records maintained in history sheets:

1. Date of media preparation.

2. Date of infestation of eggs.

3. Source of eggs.

4. Expected date of emergence.

5. Actual date of emergence.

6. No. of adults collected.

7. Problems encountered.

Eggs of corcyra

Larva , pupa and moth of corcyra