Comparative biology of chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus leucopterus (Say), in rice and sorghum
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Development of hatched eggs, first-, second-, third-, and fifth-instar nymphs, and adults of the chinch bug, Blissus leucopterus leucopterus (Say), showed no significant differences on rice or sorghum in the laboratory; however, developmental time between the third- and fourth-instars was significantly different for insects reared on rice and sorghum. After 75 days, most of the fifth-instar nymphs had not molted to adults; therefore, conclusions could not be drawn regarding differences in development of fifth-instar nymphs to adults on rice and sorghum. Development from egg to fifth-instar was about 60 days on both hosts. Cephalic capsule widths of second-, third-, and fourth-instars were significantly narrower in insects reared on rice (288 vs 302 m for second-, 358 vs 370 m for third- and 418 vs. 434 m for fourth-instars). Pre-oviposition time was 7 days earlier for females reared on sorghum than on rice; however, the total number of eggs laid per female did not differ significantly between hosts (50.5 and 52.5 eggs laid per female for rice and sorghum, respectively). Data indicated that sorghum was a slightly better host for chinch bug than rice, but also indicated the suitability of rice as a host.
