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Impact of solar radiation, rainfall and cannibalism on disappearance of maize stemborers in Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

M.J. Bonhof  and
W.A. Overholt
M.J. Bonhof
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
W.A. Overholt
Affiliation:
International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, P.O. Box 30772, Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

The effect of solar radiation, rainfall and cannibalism on the disappearance of eggs and larvae of the cereal stemborer Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) were studied. Disappearance and nonviability of egg batches was higher on plants exposed to solar radiation than on shaded plants. Significantly fewer small larvae were recovered from plants exposed to rainfall than from shielded plants. Cannibalism among larvae of the same size was not common except at high larval densities. Contrary to the common belief that disappearance is the result of predation, these studies show that solar radiation and rainfall might also play an important role in the disappearance of stemborer eggs and small larvae.

Résumé

Les effets des radiations solaires, de la pluie et du cannibalisme sur la disparition des oeufs et des larves du foreur des tiges de céréale Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) ont été étudiés. La disparition et la non-viabilité des pontes sont plus importantes sur les plantes exposées aux radiations solaires que sur celles situées à l'ombre. Le nombre de jeunes larves retrouvées sur les plantes exposées aux pluies est significativement plus faible que sur les plantes protégées. Le cannibalisme entre les larves de même taille n'est pas commun sauf si les densités de larves sont élevées. Contrairement à ce qui est communément admis, à savoir que la disparition est le résultat de la prédation, ces études montrent que les radiations solaires et la pluie peuvent aussi jouer un rôle important dans la disparition des oeufs et des jeunes larves de foreurs des tiges.

Keywords

solar radiationrainfallcannibalismdisappearanceChilo partellusmaizeradiations solairespluiecannibalismedisparitionChilo partellusmaïs
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , December 2001 , pp. 403 - 407
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2001

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