Effect of Larval Diet On Age-Stage, Two-Sex Life Table Analysis and Standardization of Laboratory Mass Rearing Protocol for Pink Stem Borer, Sesamia inferens Walker (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera)

Abstract

The pink stem borer, Sesamia inferens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a polyphagous and destructive pest of major cereal crops, causing substantial yield losses. Biology, age-stage survival and reproductive potential of S. inferens were evaluated using the age-stage, two-sex life table approach. Under controlled laboratory conditions, intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R0) and mean generation time (T) were evaluated on six larval diets: maize cobs, maize stems, sorghum, finger millet, artificial diet and maize cobs + artificial diet. Developmental duration was shortest on maize cobs + artificial diet (46.05 ± 0.26 days) and longest on artificial diet (54.08 ± 0.45 days). Fecundity was highest on maize cobs + artificial diet (235.85 ± 17.95 eggs/female) and lowest on lowest on artificial diet (71.77±7.58 eggs/female). Intrinsic rate of increase was also highest on maize cobs + artificial diet (0.10 ± 0.003) and lowest on artificial diet (0.05 ± 0.004), with net and gross reproductive rates showing similar trends. Overall results revealed that, maize cobs + artificial diet was the most suitable host for rapid development and enhanced reproduction of S. inferens. These results highlight the strong influence of larval diet sources on the population growth of S. inferens, providing insights for optimizing laboratory mass-rearing protocols that may be used to develop improved pest monitoring and sustainable management strategies.