Larval Development of the Bamboo Borer (Dinoderus minutus Fabricius) Using Individual Rearing Method

Detailed information on larval development of the powder-post beetle, Dinoderus minutus,was investigated using individual rearing method under laboratory conditions at 27±2°Cand 75±5% relative humidity. Five classes of head capsules were recorded, indicating fivemoults from first instar to prepupa. The mean larval duration recorded was 52.8±0.31 dayswith 8.04±0.12 days for the first instar larva, followed by 9.74±0.20 days, 13.10±0.17 days,16.20±0.15 days and 5.72±0.13 days, for the second to fifth instar larvae, respectively.The longest instar stage was the fourth instar, with a development time ranging from 14 to18 days and the shortest was the fifth instar ranging from 4 to 6 days. The highest growthratio of larva by body weight was 2.70, which was observed between the first and secondinstars. This indicated that the maximum feeding rate of the larva occurred between theseinstar stages. The highest growth ratio, with respect to head capsule and larval length, was1.35 and 1.34 between the fourth and fifth instar.