Paper Title
Efficacy of Temperature Fluctuation on the Development of Stalk Borer, Sesamia Critica (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract
Pink stem borer, Sesamia cretica Led. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is an important destructive agent responsible for enormous losses of corn plant in Egypt. The LC50 value of Silica nano-particles/Challenger 36% SC formulation was tested against S. cretica immature stages. We evaluated the development of treated Pink stem borer within range of temperatures between 10 and 40oC under laboratory condition. The duration and thermal requirements of Sesamia development at four constant temperatures (10, 20, 30 and 40oC) were significantly different between the treated and the check individuals. The developmental time directly proportional with temperature within the tested range for silica treated and untreated stages. The life table indices for treated and untreated populations were estimated. Key words - Pink stem borer, Sesamia cretica, duration, thermal requirements, constant temperature, silica nano-particles, life table indices.