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

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

African Entomology

Publication Date

3-1-1997

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 %).

Keywords

aestivation, Chilo species, Cotesia flavipes, Cotesia sesamiae

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