Within-plant distribution of European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner, egg masses on bell pepper.

摘要

Experiments were conducted on bell pepper cv. Paladin during 2002 and 2004 in Virginia, USA, to determine the ovipositional preferences of Ostrinia nubilalis. Once an egg mass had been located, its location on the plant was classified as either upper third, middle third or lower third strata of the plant, and as either upper leaf surface, lower leaf surface or other structure. The seasonal location of egg masses was used to reflect the critical period for the control of O. nubilalis for pepper fruit protection, i.e. first fruit set through the final harvest. A total of 426 O. nubilalis egg masses was observed on Paladin. Only 3 egg masses (0.7%) were observed on plant structures other than the leaf, including one on a stem and 2 on fruits. More than 92% of the egg masses in both years of study were observed on the lower surface of the leaf compared with the upper surface, indicating a significant ovipositional preference for the underside of leaves in 2002 followed by similar results in 2004. There were no significant differences in the observed spatial distribution of egg masses among the 3 vertical strata in either 2002 or 2004.