Studies on larval movement, feeding and development of Chilo partellus Swinhoe were carried out at Mbita, Western Kenya. Larval movement away from the plant was observed during the first and third instars. Plants inoculated at the stems recorded greater larval migration compared to those inoculated at the leaf whorls. Larval feeding was greater on IS 18363 than on IS 2146, but growth rate, weight gain and efficiency of conversion into body substances were greater in IS 2146. Thus it seems that varietal susceptibility to damage by C. partellus is different from varietal suitability for growth of the larvae.
Microscopic examination of stem tissues damaged during larval feeding revealed that feeding was mainly restricted to the pith and that the vascular bundles were hardly affected.
