Chilo tumidicostalis

Biological Studies of The Important Parasite of Chilo tumidicostalis (Hampson)
Egg Parasites
Adult of egg parasites obtained from the survey were kept in the test tubes, 2.2
cm diameter and 15 cm long, with small drops of honey on wax paper as food for the
parasites and the tube plugged with cotton wool. The newly laid eggs of sugarcane
borer obtained from stock culture were exposed in the test tubes for parasitization.
The eggs were changed after they had been parasitized and kept in the test tubes
plugged with cotton wool. These test tubes with parasites were kept in the room
temperature at 20-30 °C until the adult parasites emerged. By this method, it was
possible to maintain a stock culture of egg parasites for bionomic study and other
experimental purposes.
Larval Parasites
Adults of larval parasites collected from field survey were kept in plastic boxes
(11 cm high and 13 cm diameter) with few drops of honey in wax paper as food for
adults. The cover of plastic boxes were cut open with hole which was covered with
organza screen for ventilation (A hole measuring 2 cm in diameter was made on the
lateral side and plugged with a cork stopper for transferring the host and parasite into
it). The third to fourth instar larvae of sugarcane borers with small pieces of
sugarcane stalk were exposed to adult parasites in the plastic boxed. After
parasitization had taken place the larvae were changed and reared in new plastic boxes
(10.5 cm high and 23 diameter) until the parasites had spun their cocoons. The
cocoons were kept in new plastic boxes for emergence of the adults. The number of
parasites per host and biological data were recorded.
Pupal Parasites
Adults of pupal parasite collected from the field were reared in parasite-rearing
plastic boxes, with few drops of honey on wax paper as food. The newly pupated
pupae of sugarcane moth borers were then exposed to the parasites in the plastic
rearing boxes for parasitization. The pupae were changed everyday after
parasitization. The parasitized were kept in new plastic boxes for the emergence of
adult parasites. Daily observation was done and biological data of the parasites were
recorded.
Population Study Chilo tumidicostalis (Hampson)
The population study of sugarcane moth borer C. tumidicostalis was carried
out at Doembang Nangbuat, Suphan Buri province. The sugarcane on this plantation
was planted in rows with 25x100 cm spacing, and K 84-200 was used. The area used
for the study was about 4.5 hectares at Doembang Nangbuat.
The sampling program was set by using one stool as a sample unit and 60
samples were taken from the area 4.5 hectares in location. At location a border row
of 5 meters were makes off on all sides and samples were taken from every other 10
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