Effect of larval age and supplemental feeding on morphometrics and oviposition in honey bee Apis mellifera scutellata queens

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Journal of Economic Entomology

Publication Date

1-1-1997

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.

Keywords

Busseola fusca, Maize stem borer, Mass rearing, Ovipositional response, Surrogate stem, Technique

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