Differences in mate acceptance and host plant recognition between wild and laboratory‐reared Busseola fusca (Fuller)

Abstract

The present study was aimed at characterizing differences in mate acceptance and host plant recognition between Busseola fusca (Lep.: Noctuidae) reared for several generations under laboratory conditions and wild conspecifics, directly collected from maize stems in the field. The mating success was significantly higher in laboratory reared when compared with the wild B. fusca population. Oviposition on artificial stems was significantly higher for laboratory‐reared insects than for the wild ones. Moreover, unlike adults of the wild strain, laboratory‐reared B. fusca showed no preference to oviposit on surrogate stems impregnated with maize extracts. Long‐range attraction to the host plant was significantly lower for laboratory‐reared insects. Furthermore, the polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) analysis of mitochondrial DNA showed that the wild type and laboratory populations belonged to the same genetic strain, indicating that these differences between the populations were mainly phenotypic.

Capture of mass‐reared vs. wild‐like males of Ceratitis capitata (Dipt., Tephritidae) in trimedlure‐baited traps

“…(2003) selected for strong or weak response to plant semiochemicals and after only a single generation produced lines that diverged significantly in their response to a hexane‐extract from herbivore‐infested plants. Maeda and Liu (2006) present similar results for strains of a predatory mite attracted to volatiles of host plants infested by a phytophagous mite species (see also Calatayud et al. 2008).…”

Variability in the reproductive biology and in resistance against Cotesia sesamiae among two Busseola fusca populations

“…Because the mitochondrial status of field‐collected insects was not known at the time of the reproductive biology experiments and KI is less abundant than KII as previously reported by Calatayud et al. (2008), the number of replicates was considerably lower for KI than KII in the experiments related on the reproductive biology.…”

Importance of the experimental setup in research on attractiveness of odours in moths: an example with Busseola fusca

“…However, in some species, such as Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), an important pest of maize and sorghum in sub‐Saharan Africa (Kfir et al., ), plant volatiles did not influence the general orientation behaviour towards the host plant. In wind tunnel studies, B. fusca females oriented similarly towards host and non‐host plants (Calatayud et al., ,b). Wind tunnel studies are well‐established for studying the orientation and recognition of noctuid males to sex pheromones (Krokos et al., ; Félix et al., ), but yielded low responses in females of B. fusca to plant volatiles (Calatayud et al., ).…”

“…In wind tunnel studies, B. fusca females oriented similarly towards host and non‐host plants (Calatayud et al., ,b). Wind tunnel studies are well‐established for studying the orientation and recognition of noctuid males to sex pheromones (Krokos et al., ; Félix et al., ), but yielded low responses in females of B. fusca to plant volatiles (Calatayud et al., ). Natale et al.…”

“…In wind tunnel studies, B. fusca females oriented similarly towards host and non-host plants (Calatayud et al, 2008a,b). Wind tunnel studies are wellestablished for studying the orientation and recognition of noctuid males to sex pheromones (Krokos et al, 2002;F elix et al, 2009), but yielded low responses in females of B. fusca to plant volatiles (Calatayud et al, 2008b). Natale et al (2004) reported a similar trend in a tortricid species, Cydia pomonella L. Although wind tunnels appear to be more suitable for flying insects, providing them with more space for exhibiting their normal flying behaviour and orientation, an increasing number of authors are using Ytube olfactometers for Lepidoptera (e.g., Natale et al, 2004;Najar-Rodriguez et al, 2010;Li et al, 2012).…”