Host plants and reproductive behaviour in the African maize stemborer, Busseola fusca (Fuller 1901) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
2013
Félix, Anne-Emmanuelle | Smaïl, Tassadit | Frerot, Brigitte
Summary Busseola fusca Fuller (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is the major pest on maize and sorghum crops in sub-Saharan Africa. As a specialised phytophagous insect, survival of B. fusca larvae depends on the presence of the cultivated host plants. Taking into account recent evidence of host-plant presence acting on pheromone perception and production in Lepidoptera, we investigated the effect of different host and non-host plants on reproductive behaviour in B. fusca : female calling behaviour and male attraction by female. Results showed that both behaviours did not change in presence of plants, whether they are larvae host plant or oviposition repellent plant. Native host associated mating remains unknown for this species, but results are likely to favour the hypothesis that mating behaviour is not related to the presence of cultivated or putative native host plants.
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