Growth and Reproduction of Artificially Fed Cnaphalocrocis medinalis

Abstract

The growth and reproduction of rice leaffolder, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, fed on an artificial diet were studied. The results showed that the larvae were able to grow and pupate on the artificial diet. The durations of larvae and pupas of C. medinalis on the artificial diet were 28.1 d and 10.1 d, postponed 4.9 d and 1.7 d respectively, compared with those reared with rice leaves. The number of ovipositions was 41.6 per female, 26.2% higher than that fed on rice leaves. Survival rate curve of larvae was a descent function of mortality-age, with no significant differences from the curve of larvae fed on rice leaves. The net reproductive rate (Ro), intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and finite rate of increase (λ) of the population fed on diet were 17.6928, 0.0884 and 1.0924, respectively, and the mean generation time (T) and double time (td) were prolonged 4.9 d and 1.3 d in comparison with the treatment of rice leaves. Population trend index (I) was 3.26, indicating a growing number of the population of C. medinalis fed on artificial diet.