This document describes the process for mass producing Trichogramma chilonis, a parasitoid wasp used as a biological control agent, using Corcyra cephalonica moths as a host. The process involves: 1) Producing Corcyra cephalonica moths by infesting sterilized sorghum grains with eggs in boxes and collecting emerging moths over 2 months. 2) Collecting Corcyra eggs daily and cleaning them through sieves. 3) Placing cleaned Corcyra eggs on cards and exposing them to UV light to prevent hatching. 4) Introducing Trichogramma parasitoid wasps to the cards containing

1. MASS PRODUCTION OF TRICHOGRAMMA
CHILONIS
Prepared by
Mr. Mahesh Vikram Sable
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant Pathology
College of Agriculture, Ashti

2.  Rice moth i.e. Corcyra cephalonica is used as a laboratory
host for the production of natural enemies like
Trichogramma, Crytolaemas and Crysoperla

3. PRODUCTION PROCEDURE OF CORCYRA
CEPHALONICA
 Bold white sorghum grains used for human
consumption can be used and it should not treated
with insecticides.

4.  The required quantity of sorghum is milled to make
3-4 pieces of each grain.
 Sorghum is heat sterilized in oven at 1000 C for 30
minutes
 Sorghum is sprayed with 0.1 % formalin and air
dried to prevent the growth of moulds and decrease
the grain humidity.
Milled
Sorghum
0.1 %
Formalin
Air
Drying

5.  Sorghum is poured @ 2.5 kg / Corcyra box
 Thoroughly mixed 100 g groundnut karnel extract +
1 g sulphur dust to avoid mite infection.
100 g
Ground
Nut Karnel
Extract
1 g
Sulphur
Dust
Avoid mite
infection

6.  To start with 600 boxes (Each containing 2.5 kg of
sorghum / box) are infested with 300 cc of fresh laid
Corcyra egg (i.e. 0.5 cc / box) and the lid is secured
for about 30days.
 The 600 boxes is kept in rack and lid closed, on
40th day moth start emerging and emerging
continues for about two months.

7.  10 to 75 moth emerge daily with peak moth
emergence being between 65th and 75th day.
 The moth are collected daily and transferred to the
specially designed oviposition cages.
 Moth emergence reduces after 100 days of initial
infestation and boxes are reused after cleaning.

8.  Provide cotton soaked 20% honey + vitamin E solution
as adult food in the egg laying chamber and collect the
eggs daily.
 Moth emergence reduces after 100 days of initial
infestation and boxes are reused after cleaning.
 Egg which pass through 15, 30 and 40 mesh sieve for
cleaning and are collected and run over a slope of paper
to eliminate dust particles.

9.  The egg are treated with UV rays.
 15 wt UV tube for 15 minutes at a distances of 2 feet to
prevent hatching.
 Utilize the Corcyra eggs for Trichogramma production
(or) host culture or store them in refrigerator at 10
degree centigrade for 7 days, if required

10. MASS PRODUCTION OF TRICHOGRAMMA
 Materials required
1. Corcyra eggs
2. Nucleus culture of Trichogramma
3. Polythene bags
4. Rubber bands
5. Scissors
6. Gum
7. Brush
8. Tea strainer
9. Tricho cards
10. 50% honey solution
11. Stapler
12. Refrigerator
13. UV lamp

12. PROCEDURE
 Clean fresh Corcyra eggs by passing through 15, 30 and
45 mesh sieves.
 Prepare “Trichocard” by cutting card board sheet to the
size of 10 x10 cm which can accommodate 1 cc of eggs.

13.  Apply gum on the card and sprinkle the cleaned eggs
uniformly. Remove the excess eggs from the cards by
using brush.
 Allow the card for shade drying for 30 minutes.
 Treat the eggs under UV lamp for 30 minutes.
 Take polythene bag, insert UV treated “Trichocard” and
nucleus card at the ratio of 6:1 (6 Corcyra egg cards:
1 Trichogramma nucleus card) and provide 50% honey
vitamin E in a soaked cotton swab.

14.  Remove the Tricho cards after 2 days Corcyra eggs
changes black color on 3rd day indicates the
parasitization of eggs.
 Release the parasitized egg cards immediately in the
fields (or) store them in refrigerator at 10 degree
centigrade up to 21 days. Place/tie/staple parasitized
cards on leaf sheath of plant.

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