Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 September 2011
Observations on the growth and development of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) larvae under laboratory and field conditions indicate sexual dimorphism as well as a general developmental polymorphism. Larvae of both sexes went through fifth, sixth or seventh instars before pupation. The mean developmental period, larval head capsule width, and the number of instars before pupation as well as pupal weight were higher in the female compared to the male larvae. These observations suggest differences in the physiological state of fifth-instar larvae in a population; some of them might be in the penultimate, while others might be in the ultimate instar.
Les observations faites sur le developpement des larves du Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) ont montrés un dimorphisme sexuel ain si qui un developpement polymorphisme general. Les larves de deux sexes ont traversés le stage larvaire 5, 6 ou 7 avant la pupation. La durée moyenne du developpement de la largeur de la tête des larves le nombre des stages larvaires avant la pupation et le poids des pupes etaient plus eleves chez les femelles que ches mals. Les observations montrent des differences sur l'etat physiologique des larves du 5eme stage larvaire de la population; certaines de ces differences sont dues au stage larvaire pénultieme et les autres au stage larvaire ultime.