Resource efficient and cost reduction technology for Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) production

Abstract

In India, the egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis Ishii is generally mass produced on the eggs of rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica Stainton, however, in the present study, the cost of production of T. chilonis was studied on Samia cynthia ricini, eri silkworm, and was compared with rice moth. Rearing of T. chilonis on eri silkworm eggs showed higher benefit cost-ratio of 1.89 with a net profit of Rs. 4620, whereas T. chilonis when reared on the eggs of C. cephalonica recorded a benefit cost ratio of 1.28, with a net profit of Rs. 2379. The results revealed that in one hectare area, one trichocard made from eri silkworm eggs release that containing 3500 eggs. Each parasitized egg yields 9-10 adults, thus total adults account to about 35000–40000 adults ha^-1, while in case of trichocard made from rice moth eggs, the number of cards to be released in one hectare area are 2-3, since one trichocard made from rice moth eggs consit of 16000-17000 eggs. Hence, eri silkworm can be used as an alternate host to rice moth for rearing of T. chilonis as it is a resource efficient and cost reducing technology. Further, this production technology would be suitable for promoting localized production of eri silkworm at village level especially for tribal farmers, and unemployed youth.