Fecundity and ovipositional preference of Elophila africalis on Azolla: test for host plant susceptibility
1998
Roberts, J.M.F. (Njala Univ. College, Freetown (Sierra Leone). Dept. of Crop Protection) | Hance, T. | Hove, C. van
Free ovipositional choice, development time, survival and fecundity of Elophila africalis Hampton (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were compared on five forms of the aquatic fern Azolla Lam. When allowed a free choice for oviposition, females clearly show preferences for forms ADUL 137 PI and ADUL 133 PI. The substrate on which larvae have been previously reared does not affect the oviposition choice by the adults. Larvae were able to develop on all Azolla forms tested. There were no significant differences among the forms in terms of duration of development time of the larvae. Adult male longevity ranged from 4.5 days to 5.3 days and female longevity from 4.6 days to 6.9 days on the different Azolla forms tested. Most of the eggs were laid in the first three days of the adult life. Fecundity of females depends on the Azolla forms on which they have been reared. These results point out the possibility of selecting resistant plants and the usefulness of screening the Azolla germ plasm collections jointly maintained at the Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) and at the International Rice Research Institute (Philippines).
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by University of Liège