Temporal patterns of emergence, calling behaviour and oviposition period of the maize stem borer,Busseola fusca(Fuller) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract

Abstract. Sexual behaviour in most of the noctuid Lepidoptera follows a diel periodicity and is limited to a precise period of either the day or the night. The periodicity and the maturation periods are specifi c as well as the onset of oviposition behaviour. The knowledge of these traits of biology is an essential prerequisite for all the studies in chemical ecology. The periodicity of adult emergence, calling behaviour and oviposition of Busseola fusca (Fuller) was studied under laboratory conditions. Most males emerged before onset of the scotophase whereas most females did so one hour later. The virgin females started to exhibit calling behaviour few hours after emergence and there is no sexual maturation time. The calling behaviour starts the fourth hour after the onset of the scotophase but is lightly delayed for females having emerged the same night as compared to older females. Sexual and oviposition behaviours occur during the dark period. Oviposition started the fi rst night after the mating night, peaked during the second night and then gradually decreased until the fi fth night. The fi rst night of oviposition, females laid eggs during the fi rst three hours and after the 5 th hour of the scotophase with a maximum during the 8 th and 9 th hour. During the second night, oviposition peaked during the second hour and tended to decrease thereafter. Résumé. Chronologie de l'émergence, du comportement d'appel et de l'oviposition chez la mineuse du maïs Busseola fusca (Fuller) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae). Le comportement sexuel de la plupart des lépidoptères Noctuidae est cyclique et limité à une période bien précise du jour ou de la nuit. Les rythmes et les délais de maturation sexuelle sont propres à chaque espèce. L'initiation du comportement de ponte est aussi une des composantes de l'espèce. La connaissance de ces points de biologie est un préalable indispensable à toutes études d'écologie chimique qui traitent de la reconnaissance du partenaire sexuel et de la plante-hôte. Les périodes d'émergence, du comportement d'appel et de ponte de Busseola fusca (Fuller) ont été étudiées dans des conditions de laboratoire. La plupart des mâles émergent avant le début de nuit et les femelles lors des premières heures. Le comportement d'appel des femelles vierges débute quelques heures après l'émergence et il n'y pas chez B. fusca de délai de maturation sexuelle. La période d'appel commence quatre heures après le début de nuit, et est un peu plus tardive pour les femelles qui viennent d'émerger. L'insecte présente une activité nocturne tant pour l'accouplement que pour la ponte. L'oviposition débute la nuit qui suit celle de l'accouplement et la quantité d'oeufs déposés augmente la deuxième nuit de ponte pour ensuite décroître progressivement jusqu'à la cinquième nuit. La ponte se répartit sur toute la durée de la scotophase avec deux pics : l'un se situe en début de nuit et l'autre dans la seconde moitié de la scotophase.

Notes on the Bionomics of the Pink Stem Borer Sesamia inferens Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): An Upcoming Pest of Wheat in India

“…In all, there were ten replicates. To obtain sufficient mated females, the method developed by Calatayud et al (2007) was followed. One-day-old females were placed into glass jars with the onset of the evening and one day old males were introduced one hour later.…”

Olfactory attraction of egg parasitoids to virgin females of noctuid stemborers

“…A cotton pad moistened with water maintained the relative humidity in the plastic box at [80%. Calatayud et al (2007) showed that no calling activities occurred during the photophase. Thus to allow carrying out of the experiments during day-time, the pupae were kept in a L12:D12 reversed photoperiod with the scotophase lasting from 07:00 to 19:00.…”

“…Calling was defined as 50% of full extension of the ovipositor. To determine the onset of calling, virgin females were placed in a mosquito-net cage (40 9 40 9 63 cm) the night succeeding emergence because they have a one day pre-oviposition period (Shorey et al 1968;Calatayud et al 2007). …”

Variability in Pheromone Communication Among Different Haplotype Populations of Busseola fusca

“…Adults were collected daily, and males were housed in groups of ten in rectangular crystal polystyrene boxes, while females were placed in individual containers for testing at 2-3 days old. All materials were held at 25°C, 85± 10% rh, under a 12:12 h light/dark reversed photoperiod, and the experiments were carried out during the mating period, which starts in the fifth hour of the scotophase under these conditions (Calatayud et al 2007). …”