Ecology of the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

New information on the intraseasonal progression of larval infestations of Busseola fusca (Fuller) in South Africa was obtained through repeated sampling in maize plantings of different planting dates over various seasons. Due to the occurrence of distinct periods of moth flight, variation in planting date had a marked influence on levels of larval infestation. Also, plants were found to be most attractive as sites for oviposition between three and five weeks after emergence, resulting in a definite pattern in the time distribution of different larval instars in different plant parts. In the pre-tassel stage of plant development, most larvae occurred in localized groups within the whorls, reaching maximum numbers eight weeks after plant emergence. The emergence of the tassel forced some larvae to migrate to adjacent plants, resulting in an increase of internally damaged plants without an increase in larval numbers. It is shown that scouting for eggs over a limited period of plant development can lead to better timing of spray applications and thus to more cost-effective control measures.

Plant resistance × environment interaction: Perspectives on yield losses caused by the maize stalk borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller)

“…Tydskr. Plant Grond 1996, 13(3) emergence, which represents the peak occurrence of oviposition in the field (van Rensburg et at., 1987).…”

Host plant adaptation in the glasshouse whitefly

“…Knutson and Gilstrap, 1990, Trichilo and Leigh, 1985, Mansour and Karchi, 1990, Zabudskaya, 1990and van Rensburg and Malan, 1990. In the studies presented in chapters 2 and 3 the distinction was made and it was found that the number of non-laying females increased, as the suitability of the plants to which the females were exposed to decreased.…”

Effect of planting date of maize on damage and yield loss caused by the stalk borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Lesotho

“…The importance of this stalk borer has also been reported in eastern and southern Africa (Dabrowski, 1985), as well as in Nigeria (Harris, 1962). Owing to the importance of B. fusca as a limiting factor to maize production on the African continent, its biology, ecology and control have been extensively investigated elsewhere in Africa (Mally, 1920;du Plessis & Lea, 1943;Harris, 1962;Usua, 1968;Walters et al, 1976;van Rensburg, van Rensburg & Malan, 1980;van Rensburg, Walters & Giliomee, 1985, 1987, 1988a. Although B.fusca has also been reported to attack maize in Lesotho (Qhobela et al, 1986), no further s~udy was conducted on the pest.…”

“…The tiille of planting was reported to have a pronounced effect on the levels of infestation and subsequent yield loss caused by stalk borers in maize (Swaine, 1957;Harris, 1962;Abu, 1986;van Rensburg et at., 1985van Rensburg et at., , 1987Gebre-Amlak, Sigvald & Petterson, 1989). This phenomenon has been attributed to the occurrence of distinct periods of moth flight (van Rensburg et al, 1987).…”