Courtship behaviour of the African Maize Stem Borer: Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under laboratory conditions

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Name

Environmental Entomology

Publication Date

12-1-1990

Abstract

The responses of Maruca testulalis (Geyer) larvae, which favor or hamper its colonization of a plant, were studied on three cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.), Walpers, cultivars, 'VITA l' (susceptible), 'VITA 5' (moderately resistant), and 'TVu 946' (resistant). Larval responses studied were orientation, feeding, utilization of ingested food, and development. Attraction and arrest-stay of first instars to the plants indicated that orientational nonpreference of the larvae contributed to the resistance of 'TVu 946' and 'VITA 5' cultivars to M. Testulalis. Results from studies on food intake, utilization of ingested food, larval growth, and development indicated that antibiosis was also partly involved in the resistance of 'TVu 946' and 'VITA 5' stems and pods.

Keywords

Cowpea, Insecta, Maruca testulalis, Resistance

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