Author
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Binder, Bradley |
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Robbins, James |
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Submitted to: Entomological Society of America Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/1995 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Age-related ovipositional patterns of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, were studied in the laboratory by releasing newly-eclosed adults into wire-screened cages, with suitable oviposition substrates, and recording their oviposition through the adult stage. Females produced few egg masses the first night after eclosion. Oviposition increased on night two and peaked on night three, but steadily declined after that as females matured. A female produced more than three egg masses on night three for a total of more than 80 eggs. The size distribution of egg masses also changed as females aged. Females two-to-six nights old produced more than 50% of egg masses with at least 20 eggs. Females older than six nights produced fewer large egg masses; as the proportion of large egg masses declined, the proportion of egg masses with fewer than 20 eggs gradually increased. By the end of the adult period, nearly 100% of the egg masses had fewer than 20 eggs. Individual ovipositional sequences of females depositing egg masses were documented on the third night following eclosion with a video camcorder. During a sequence, the female produced an egg every 15 s and completed depositing an egg in the size of 20-39 eggs, in less than 10 min. Females were not easily disturbed during egg mass deposition and vibrated their abdomen before deposition of each egg. |
