Feeding preferences of the legume pod borer Maruca vitrata (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae and suitability of different flower parts for larval development

Abstract

Abstract. With the advent of transgenic Bt-cowpea, there is a need to identify the feeding preferences of Maruca vitrata Fab., in order to determine which component of the plant the expression of the toxin needs to be the highest in order to ensure the greatest efficacy of the insecticidal Bt proteins. In the current study we examined the feeding preferences of M. vitrata larvae in a naturally infested cowpea field. We also tested, in the laboratory, the suitability of different flower components for the larval development of M. vitrata. Our results indicated that in the field, all types of flowers, regardless of their age, were infested with M. vitrata larvae. The reproductive organs, in the flowers, were the preferred feeding diet for the larvae. Laboratory bioassays confirmed that the reproductive organs were the optimal tissues for M. vitrata larval development. The implications of these findings for transgenic Btcowpea are discussed.

Biopesticide based sustainable pest management for safer production of vegetable legumes and brassicas in Asia and Africa

“…Like other NPVs, MaviMNPV formulation was found to be highly effective against early instars of M. vitrata . Since early instars of M. vitrata feed on the surface of flower buds, flowers or pods in legume flowers, MaviMNPV has become an ideal component for killing the larvae before entering into these reproductive organs and thus reducing the economic losses quite significantly. When MaviMNPV formulations were evaluated for their efficacy, either alone or in combination with neem and Bacillus thuringiensis , the pod damage in hyacinth bean was significantly reduced by MaviMNPV formulations in Taiwan …”

The legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), an important insect pest of cowpea: a review emphasizing West Africa

“…Ghana Afreh-Nuamah (1983) on the tender parts of stems, peduncles, flowers, flower buds and young pods (Atachi and Gnanvossou 1989) but they prefer the floral parts (Karel 1985;Liao and Lin 2000;Chi et al 2003). Within the flower, the larvae feed preferentially on stamens and pistils (Traore et al 2013). Larvae are dispersed randomly on cowpea flowers (Firempong and Mangalit 1990;Liao and Lin 2000).…”

“…The vertical distribution of larvae on plants did not significantly differ among the strata of the flowers and pods (Liao and Lin 2000). Several first-instar larvae may be found together within individual flowers (Traore et al 2013), but later they disperse, moving singly from one flower to another. Each larva may consume four to six flowers before larval development is completed (Gblagada 1982).…”

Survival and life table parameters of soybean pod borer Maruca vitrata (Geyer) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on leguminous crop cultivars

“…It is a potential pest of pigeonpea, common beans, soybean, and cowpea in Asia including Korea (Barroga 1969;Jung et al 2007;Saxena 1974;Srivastava 1974;Subasinghe & Fellows 1978). This insect pest causes damage to all stages of crop development, feeding on the tender leaf axils, flower buds, flowers and young pods by webbing and boring (Sharma 1998;Singh & Allen 1980;Singh & Taylor 1978;Taylor 1967;Traore et al 2013). Uniquely, the larvae of this pod borer damage the buds, flowers and pods of crop by webbing and boring, and this typical feeding habit protects the larvae from adverse environmental conditions, natural enemies and chemical sprays (Sharma 1998).…”