Abstract
Developmental response of larvae of the oriental corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis, to the autoclaved corn plant parts at different growth stages was examined in relation to the chemical composition of the corn parts. Higher levels of nitrogen-containing fractions-free amino acid, soluble protein, and total protein fractions-were observed during the vegetative growth stages, whereas the contents of sugars and digestible carbohydrates increased as the growth stage of the corn plant advanced. Thus, C/N ratio values (total soluble sugar content/crude protein content) in corn plants ranged from below the unity at the young vegetative stages to higher values at more advanced stages. The larvae fed on the corn plant parts with low C/N ratios grew faster than those on corn parts with higher C/N ratios. The weight increment of larvae on the corn parts with C/N ratios ranging from 1 to 2 was the highest while that of larvae on foods with ratios below unity or over 3 was lower.
