Abstract
Three generations of the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) per year were observed in maize fields in Southern Ethiopia. However, the third generation was not important on maize. The first generation developed on young maize plants during the wetseason (April–July). The second generation occurred in July and majority of larvae went into diapause from September to February while a small proportion pupated in the months of September and October and gave rise to a third generation. Pupation of the diapause larvae was observed in April.
Female moths from the first (non-diapause) generation laid significantly more eggs than those coming from a diapause generation. Longevity of these moths was also significantly longer than the diapause generation. Despite the indicated differences, female moths from both generations laid most of their eggs between the second and fifth nights after emergence. The number of eggs laid and rates of hatching declined with age of moths irrespective of generations.
Résumé
Trois générations du “maize stalk borerȝ, Busseola fusca (Fuller) par ans ont été observées dans des champs de maïs situés dans le sude de l’Ethiopie. Cependant, la troisième génération fut sans importance pour la recolte de maïs. La première génération s’est développée sur des jeunes plantes de maïs pendant la saison humide (avril-juillet). La deuxième génération est apparue en juillet et la majorité des larves sont entrées dans un état de diapause de septembre a février, tandis qu’une moindre proportion se nymhosaient aux mois de septembre et octobre, et produisaient une troisième génération. Les larves en diapause se sont nymphosées en avril.
Les femelles de la première génération (sans diapause) ont pondu plus d’oeufs que celles de la génération diapausante. Leur durée de vie etait aussi plus longue. Malgré les differences indiquées, les femelles des deux générations ont pondu la plupart de leurs oeufs entre la deuxième et la cinquième nuit suivant la mue imaginale. Le nombre d’oeufs produit et le taux d’éclosion diminue de façon continue avec l’age des femelles independemment de la génération.
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Gebre-Amlak, A. Phenology and Fecundity of Maize Stalk Borer Busseola fusca (Fuller) in Awassa, Southern Ethiopia. Int J Trop Insect Sci 10, 131–137 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400010274
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400010274