Oviposition acceptance and larval development of Chilo partellus stemborers in drought‐stressed wild and cultivated grasses of East Africa

• DOI: 10.1111/eea.12186
• Publication Date: 2014-04-15T06:58:39Z
• Authors: Frank Chidawanyika; Charles A.O. Midega; Toby J.A. Bruce; Frances Duncan; John A. Pickett; Zeyaur R. Khan
• Keywords: Chilo

Abstract Maternal host choices during oviposition by herbivorous insects determine the fitness of their offspring and may be influenced environmental changes that can alter host‐plant quality. This is particular relevance to ‘push‐pull’ cropping systems where preferences are exploited manage insect pest populations. We tested how drought stress in maize companion plants used these affect preference, larval feeding, development spotted stemborer, C hilo partellus S winhoe ( L epidoptera: rambidae). Five species were (all P oaceae): Z ea mays .), N apier grass ennisetum purpureum chumach), signal [ B rachiaria brizantha A . R ich) tapf], cv. ‘ M ulato’, molasses elinis minutiflora eauv.)]. Under stress, experienced as much control unstressed choice no‐choice experiments. Similarly, leaf damage was not significantly different drought‐stressed vs. maize. In contrast, occurred less on than grass. Oviposition acceptance remained low both ulato. Larval survival high maize, but apier, signal, ulato, plants. Our results indicate herbivore responses depend plant change preference rankings. particular, trap‐crops such Napier divert from main crop under conditions.