Impact of Abiotic Factors on the Growth and Development of Corcyra cephalonica Stainton in Stored Maize

Maize (Zea mays L) is one of the most versatile emerging crops having wider adaptability under varied agro-climatic conditions. Globally, maize is known as queen of cereals because it has the highest genetic yield potential among the cereals. It is cultivated on nearly 150 m ha in about 160 countries having wider diversity of soil, climate, biodiversity and management practices. The average productivity in India is 2.5 tone/ ha (IMS, 2014). In India, maize is the third most important food crops after rice and wheat. Maize in India, contributes nearly 9 per cent in the national food basket. In addition to staple food for human being and quality feed for animals, maize serves as a basic raw material as an ingredient to thousands of industrial products that includes starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, film, textile, gum, package and paper industries etc. The maize is cultivated throughout the year in all states of the country for various purposes including grain, fodder, green cobs, sweet An experiment was conducted in the laboratory to find out the impact of temperature and relative humidity on growth and development of C. cephalonica during, 2010-2011, revealed that the development period of male and female was maximum with a mean of 89.50 and 92.00 days at 20°C temperature and 40 per cent relative humidity, respectively. The maximum larval period of (70.10 days) was recorded at 20°C temperature and 40 per cent relative humidity; whereas, the maximum weight of full grown larva (51.00 mg) was recorded at 30°C temperature and 80 per cent relative humidity. The maximum pupal period of male (13.60 days) and female (14.40 days) were observed at 20°C temperature and 40 per cent relative humidity, while the higher weight of male (36.00 mg) and female (38.00 mg) pupa were observed at 30°C temperature and 80 per cent relative humidity. The maximum adult emergence of male (61.40%) and female (80.90%) were observed at 30°C temperature and 80 per cent relative humidity; whereas, the maximum adult longevity of male (16.30 days) and female (10.50 days) were observed at 20°C temperature and 40 per cent relative humidity. The maximum growth rate index of male (1.35) and female (1.64) were recorded at 30°C temperature and 80 per cent relative humidity, while minimum growth rate index male (0.39) and female (0.60) were observed at 20°C temperature and 40 per cent relative humidity. K e y w o r d s