Vol. 12, Special Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
MA Chaudhari, PD Ghoghari, LS Chaudhary, GD Bagul and HP Chaudhari

Abstract:
The eggs of rice moth were pearly white, oval in shape and measured on an average 0.35±0.03 mm in length and 0.33±0.02 mm in breadth. The average incubation period was 4.08±0.80 days with hatchability was 86.07±4.82 percent. The larvae passed through seven distinct instars. The average length (mm) and breadth (mm) of first to seventh instar larvae were 1.13±0.19, 1.71±0.14, 3.56±0.20, 6.52±0.09, 7.35±0.19, 7.47±0.20, 8.36±0.14 and 0.20±0.03, 0.31±0.03, 0.61±0.07, 1.31±0.05, 1.52±0.14, 1.71±0.07, 1.73±0.05, respectively. From first to seventh instar larvae, the average duration was 4.08±0.80, 5.00±0.75, 5.20±0.75, 6.80±0.85, 5.60±0.94, 5.36±0.93 and 5.96±0.77 days, respectively. The average length, breadth and duration of pupa were 3.80±0.46 mm, 1.45±0.11 mm and 10.64±1.05 days, respectively. Adult male and female of the rice moth were pale grey to brown in colour, with uniformly dark grey wings. The average length, breadth and wing expansion of male moth were 1.76±0.03, 1.25±0.02 and 1.66±0.03 mm respectively, while average length, breadth and wing expansion of female moth were 2.27±0.16 mm, 1.24±0.02 mm and 1.69±0.05 mm, respectively. The lowest (48.27%) weight loss recorded in the treatment of neem leaves powder at 28 days after treatment.