*2.3. Insect Rearing*

The stock population of *C. suppressalis* was established by collecting the egg patches from rice fields of Amol, northern Iran. The eggs were kept in a growth chamber at 25 ± 2 ◦C, 85 ± 5% R.H. and 16:8 (L:D) h of photoperiod. The newly hatched larvae were transferred to the tubes (20 × 15 cm) supplied by rice seedlings of Hashemi variety. Quality of food was monitored every day, and the old cutting stems were replaced by the fresh ones [42]. Rearing was continued for three generations at the same controlled conditions.
