Rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) – A boon for biocontrol as a factitious host for mass production of parasitoids and predators

Abstract

The eggs, larvae and pupae of the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae), have been found to serve as factitious/ alternative hosts for mass-production of at least 78 species of natural enemies – 60 parasitoids, 18 predators – belonging to 35 genera in 18 families under 8 orders that include Hymenoptera, Diptera, Arachnida and Nematoda for parasitoids while Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Neuroptera for predators. A list of these natural enemies is provided. Thus, though C. cephalonica is a serious pest of stored grains under natural conditions, it is a boon in laboratories as a factitious host for economic mass production of a variety of parasitoids and predators like Trichogramma, Chrysoperla, etc., which are extensively utilized in augmentative biological control.