Survival and development of Chilo partellus were studied on five sorghum cultivars (IS-18363, IS-18520, ICS-1, ICS-2 and IS-4660) in the laboratory at Mbita Point Field Station, Kenya, at 26 ± 2°C and 65 ± 5% RH. Larval developmental period differed significantly on different cultivars. Number of instars was numerically greater for the females than for the males on all cultivars. Average pupal weight varied with sex; females were twice as heavy as males. The pupal period was longer for males than for females on all cultivars, with the exception of ICS-1, where the pupal period of males was equal to that of females. Ovipositional period was significantly longer on IS-18520 (5.18 ± 0.30 days) than on other cultivars. The shortest ovipositional period (3.70 ± 0.27 days) was recorded on IS-4660. There were no statistically significant differences in adult longevity. Sex ratio of the moths also did not affect the adult longevity of C. partellus reared on the five sorghum cultivars. The variations found in the development of C. partellus on different cultivars were attributed to the nutritional value of the food source.