Journal of Economic Entomology (1997) 90, 1426-1429

Z.R. Khan and R.C. Saxena (1997)
Use of a surrogate stem for eliciting ovipositional response of Busseola fusca (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Journal of Economic Entomology 90 (5), 1426-1429
Abstract: A surrogate stem made of wax paper elicited optimum ovipositional response from Busseola fusca (Fuller). It closely resembled a maize stem with intact leafsheaths, which provided physical stimuli- necessary for B. fusca egg laying, and facilitated quick recovery of eggs. B. fusca females readily inserted their ovipositors into spaces between the surrogate stem and leafsheaths and laid eggs in linear rows. In both choice or no-choice ovipositional tests, gravid females laid equal or higher numbers of eggs on the surrogate stems than on susceptible INB-A maize stems. The method has facilitated the mass rearing of B. fusca and bioassays of plant allelochemicals to the insect ovipositional response.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Zeyaur R. Khan

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
rearing/culturing/mass production
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Busseola fusca	Maize/corn (Zea mays)