Publication Type
Journal Article
Journal Name
Insect Science and its Application
Publication Date
1-1-1997
Abstract
The palaeotropical, gregarious, endoparasitic braconids Cotesia sesamiae, Cotesia flavipes and Cotesia chilonis were recently imported into Benin as candidates for biological control of stem and cob borers of maize. Host acceptability and host suitability of six gramineous borers occurring in western Africa, namely the noctuids Sesamia calamistis, Sesamia poephaga, Busseola fusca and the pyralids Contesta ignefiisalis, Eldana saccharina and Mussidia nigrivenella, to these candidate parasitoids was evaluated in order to gain insight into the physiological suitability of the natural and factitious hosts. All hosts were accepted by all Cotesia spp., except M. nigrivenella which was not attacked by Co. chilonis. Parasitoid progeny development was successful in S. calamistis, S. poephaga and Con. ignefusalis. Sesamia calamistis was the most suitable host for Cotesia spp. development, in terms of duration of developmental time, brood size and mortality of parasitoid progeny. © 1997 ICIPE.
Keywords
Biological control, Cotesia spp. Stemborer, Host acceptability, Host suitability, Maize, New associations, West africa
Recommended Citation
Hailemichael, Y., Schulthess, F., Smith, J., & Overholt, W. (1997). Suitability of west african gramineous stemborers for the development of cotesia species. Insect Science and its Application, 17 (1), 89-95. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1742758400022207