Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Egg laying preference of Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) among primary and secondary hosts

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Applied Entomology and Zoology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sesamia nonagrioides Lefébvre (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has a fairly wide range of host plants. The present study tests the egg-laying preference of S. nonagrioides on four potential host plants (maize, sweet and fiber sorghum and johnsongrass) with respect to several life history traits. No-choice and two-choice tests in all possible combinations were conducted. Concerning no-choice tests, significantly higher number of eggs were laid on sweet sorghum (282.5 eggs/female) in relation to the other tested plants. Moreover, viability of eggs that were laid on sweet sorghum was significantly higher in relation to those that were laid on johnsongrass. Longevity of females reared on maize plants was significantly greater compared with the other test plants except johnsongrass. Furthermore, pre-oviposition period of females reared on maize was significantly longer (2.4-fold) compared with that on sweet sorghum and johnsongrass. Similarly post-oviposition period of females reared on maize was significantly longer compared with that on fiber sorghum. On two choice tests significantly fewer eggs were laid on sweet sorghum than on maize. On the other hand, significantly more eggs were laid on sweet sorghum than on fiber sorghum and johnsongrass. We discuss the potential of secondary hosts to be used as trap plants.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allison J, Jenner W, Cappuccino N, Mason PG (2007) Oviposition and feeding preference of Acrolepiopsis assectella Zell. (Lep., Acrolepiidae). J Appl Entomol 131:690–697

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allsopp PG, Sallam MS (2001) BSS249 Preparedness for borer incursion. Sesamia incursion management plan Version 1. Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations Publication, Project Report PR01002

  • Balagawi S, Vijaysegeram S, Drew RAI, Raghu S (2005) Influence of fruit traits on oviposition preference and offspring performance of Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on three tomato (Lycopercicon lycopercicum) cultivars. Aust J Entomol 44:97–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bengtsson M, Jaastad G, Knudsen G, Kobro S, Bäckman A-C, Pettersson E, Witzgall P (2006) Plant volatiles mediate attraction to host and non-host plant in apple fruit moth, Argyresthia conjugella. Entomol Exp Appl 118:77–85

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calatayud PA, Guenevo H, Ru B, Silvain JF, Frerot B (2007) Temporal patterns of emergence, calling behavior and oviposition period of the maize stem borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Ann Entomol Soc Fr 43:63–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Commonwealth Institute of Entomology (1991) Distribution maps of pests. Series A (Agricultural), Map no. 11 (2nd rev). Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner). Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau, London

  • Dhillon MK, Sharma PD (2003) Studies on biology and behavior of Earias vitella (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) for mechanisms of resistance in different cotton genotypes. Crop Prot 23:235–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fantinou AA, Tsitsipis JA, Karandinos MG (1998) Diapause termination in Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under laboratory and field conditions. Environ Entomol 27:53–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Fantinou AA, Perdikis DC, Chatzoglou CS (2003) Development of immature stages of Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under altering and constant temperatures. Environ Entomol 32:1337–1342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González-Núñez M, Ortego F, Castañera P (2000) Susceptibility of Spanish populations of the corn borers Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Ostrinia nubilalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) to a Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxin. J Econ Entomol 93:459–463

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Konstantopoulou MA, Krokos FD, Mazomenos BE (2002) Chemical Stimuli from corn plants affect host selection and oviposition behavior of Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J Econ Entomol 95:1289–1293

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • López C, Eizaguirre M, Albajes R (2003) Courtship and mating behavior of the Mediterranean corn borer, Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Span J Agric Res 1:43–51

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin LA, Pullin AS (2004) Host-plant specialization and habitat restriction in an endangered insect, Lycaena dispar batavus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) I. Larval feeding and oviposition preferences. Eur J Entomol 101:51–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayhew PJ (2001) Herbivore host choice and optimal bad motherhood. Trend Ecol Evol 16:165–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minitab Inc. (2010) Minitab 16 statistical software. State College

  • Navrozidis EI, Andreadis SS (2012) Applied agricultural entomology, 1st edn. CopyCity Publish, Thessaloniki (in Greek)

    Google Scholar 

  • Norris F, Kogan M (2005) Ecology of interaction between weeds and arthropods. Annu Rev Entomol 50:479–503

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Poitout S, Bues R (1970) Elevage de plusieurs espèces de Lépidoptères Noctuidae sur milieu artificiel simplifié. Ann Zool Ecol Anim 2:79–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Renwick JAA (1989) Chemical ecology of oviposition in phytophagous insects. Cell Mol Sci 45:223–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Renwick JAA, Chew FS (1994) Oviposition behavior in Lepidoptera. Annu Rev Entomol 39:377–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schoonhoven LM, van Loon JA, Dicke M (2005) Insect-plant biology, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuster D (2004) Squash as a trap crop to protect tomato from whitefly-vectored tomato yellow leaf curl. Int J Pest Manag 50:281–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma HC, Franzmann BA (2001) Host plant and oviposition responses of the sorghum midge, Stenidiplosis sorghicola (Coquilett) (Dipt., Cecidomyiidae) towards wild relatives of sorghum. J Appl Entomol 125:109–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shelton AM, Badenes-Perez FR (2006) Concepts and applications of trap cropping in pest management. Annu Rev Entomol 51:285–308

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singer MC (1982) Quantification of host preference by manipulation of oviposition behavior in the butterfly Euphydryas editha. Oecologia 52:224–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sokal RR, Rohlf FJ (1995) Biometry, 3rd edn. Freeman, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Stavrakis GN (1967) Contributions a l’etude des especes nuisibles au mais en Grece du genre Sesamia (Lepidopteres – Noctuidae). Ann Inst Phytopathol Benaki 8:19–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Thibout E, Auger J, Lecomte C (1982) Host plant chemicals responsible for attraction and oviposition in Acrolepiopsis assectella. In: Visser JH, Minks AK (eds) Proceedings of the 5th international symposium on insect-plant relationships. Kluwer Academic Publications, Dordrecht, pp 107–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiéry D, Moreau J (2005) Relative performance of European grapevine moth (Lobesia botrana) on grapes and other hosts. Oecologia 143:548–557

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson JN (1988) Variation in preference and specificity in monophagous and polyphagous swallowtail butterflies. Evolution 42:118–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson JN, Pellmyr O (1991) Evolution of oviposition behavior and host preference in Lepidoptera. Annu Rev Entomol 36:65–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorsteinson AJ (1960) Host selection in phytophagous insects. Annu Rev Entomol 5:193–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zadoks JC, Chang TT, Konzak CF (1974) A decimal code for the growth stages of cereals. Weed Res 14:415–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank three anonymous reviewers for useful comments. This work was funded by grants from the EU, Proposal No QLRT-2001-01969 (Protecting the Benefits of Bt-toxins from Insect Resistance Development by Monitoring and Management).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Stefanos S. Andreadis

    Present address: Unit of Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 23053, Alnarp, Sweden

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Applied Zoology and Parasitology, Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Ourania C. Dimotsiou, Stefanos S. Andreadis & Matilda Savopoulou-Soultani

Authors
  1. Ourania C. Dimotsiou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stefanos S. Andreadis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Matilda Savopoulou-Soultani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Stefanos S. Andreadis or Matilda Savopoulou-Soultani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dimotsiou, O.C., Andreadis, S.S. & Savopoulou-Soultani, M. Egg laying preference of Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) among primary and secondary hosts. Appl Entomol Zool 49, 27–33 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-013-0220-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-013-0220-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation