OVIPOSITION OF THE STALK BORER PAPAIPEMA NEBRIS (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) AMONG VARIOUS PLANTS, AND PLANT CHARACTERISTICS FOR OVIPOSITIONAL PREFERENCE

In ovipositional plant preference tests in greenhouse cages, the stalk borer (SB) Papaipema nebris Guenée, preferred narrow leaved perennial grasses over wider leaved annual grasses or broad - leaf plants. Fescue, Fescuta arundinacea Schreb., and orchardgrass, Dactylis glomerata L., were the most preferred plants for oviposition, while annual rye stubble, Secale cereale L., and smooth pigweed, Amaranthus hybridis L., were among the least preferred. Significantly higher numbers of eggs were laid on plants standing upright in ovipositional cages, compared with numbers of eggs laid on cut plants lying on cage floors. The SB preferred to oviposit on desiccating plant material, regardless of the plant species used in our tests. The SB did not lay eggs on any broadleaf plants used in choice tests, and retained eggs until death. Results of SB ovipositional preferences were reviewed. Possible cultural control techniques, and their importance in regard to the SB infestation syndrome in no - till field corn are discussed.