African Entomology (1997) 5, 35-39

J.C. Mbapila and W.A. Overholt (1997)
Oviposition, development and searching behaviour of Cotesia flavipes Cameron and Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in relation to aestivating and non-aestivating Chilo spp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae in maize
African Entomology 5 (1), 35-39
Abstract: Oviposition, development and searching behavior of Cotesia flavipes Cameron and Cotesia sesamiae (Cameron) on aestivating Chilo spp. and non-aestivating Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) larvae were investigated. Oviposition experiments indicated that parasitoids readily accepted aestivating and non aestivating larvae for oviposition under laboratory conditions. The development times of C. flavipes from egg to adult emergence in aestivating compared with non-aestivating host larvae were not significantly different. Field-cage studies demonstrated that C. flavipes and C. sesamiae were unable to locate and parasitize aestivating Chilo spp. larvae in dry maize stems. Parasitization of non-aestivating C. partellus larvae was significantly higher in cages where C. flavipes was released (26.21 %) than in cages where C. sesamiae was released (11.32 %).
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): William A. Overholt

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Chilo partellus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Kenya
Cotesia flavipes (parasitoid)	Chilo partellus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Kenya
Cotesia sesamiae (parasitoid)	Chilo partellus	Maize/corn (Zea mays)	Kenya