Potential of Fenoxycarb on the Growth Duration and Longevity of Adults of Rice Moth, Corcyra Cephalonica Staint. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Exposed as Second Instar Larvae

The rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton is a notorious pest of stored cereals and cereal commodities in Asia, Africa, North America, Europe and other tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Attempts were made to control this lepidopterous pest with the application of an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) Fenoxycarb, a juvenile hormone analogue which affects the growth and development of the insect, and thus, reducing the pest population in socio-economically and environmentally safe and suitable way. Corcyra cephalonica larvae, at second instar level, were exposed to 0.001, 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.50 and 1.00 ppm concentrations of Fenoxycarb. It was observed that increased concentrations of Fenoxycarb caused a significant (P<0.01) enhancement in growth duration, due to its juvenoids action, and an insignificant reduction in adult longevity in both the sexes of this pest, causing adverse effect on adult emergence, so, reduces pest population without harming mammalian population including human being and environment as well as non-target organisms. Thus, it may be concluded that Insect Growth Regulators may be applied as an insecticide for the effective control of Corcyra cephalonica.