Assoc. Prof. Dr. Manaporn Manaboon
Associated Professor, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, ThailandSpeech Title: Summer-Ready Moths: Innovations in Bamboo Borer Breeding Practices
Abstract: Bamboo borers (Omphisa fuscidentalis) are tropical insects highly valued in Thailand, with fried bamboo borers fetching prices of up to THB 3,000 per kilogram. These insects are univoltine, with their life cycle naturally synchronized to the rainy season, as bamboo shoots—their egg-laying substrate—are only available during this time. This study explores the use of Ocimum sanctum (holy basil) extract as a natural alternative to juvenile hormone analogs (JHAs) for promoting non-seasonal moth production. Three concentrations of O. sanctumextract (10, 100, and 1,000 ppm) were tested, and their effects on development were compared to JHAs. The results demonstrated that 10 ppm extract induced the highest pupation rate (82%), while 1,000 ppm extract yielded the highest adult emergence rate (78%). Both extract and JHA treatments significantly shortened the larval period (92-99 days) compared to the control (270 days), with no significant differences in the pupal period. Moths reared under the specificconditions successfully mated and produced first-instar larvae, providing a sustainable solution for producing parent moths outside the rainy season. This study offers an innovative approach to scaling bamboo borer production, enabling local agriculturalists to rear these high-value insects in their bamboo forests without reliance on synthetic chemicals.
Biography: MANAPORN Manaboon is an Associated Professor of the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University. She earned both her Bachelor's degree (Zoology) and Master's degree (Biology) from Chiang Mai University. During her studies, she was awarded the AIEJ scholarship to study at Kanazawa University in 2001. She later received the Hitachi Scholarship Foundation award for doctoral studies and earned her Ph.D. in 2009 from the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University. Her research focuses on insect physiology, particularly the growth and development of insects. Currently, she is working on cultivating bamboo borer moths for summer emergence. Since bamboo borer moths are typically only found during the rainy season, her groundbreaking preliminary research represents a significant achievement in the field.