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Studies on host‐plant selection by the cowpea seed moth, Cydia ptychora
Author(s) -
PERRIN R. M.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1977.tb01873.x
Subject(s) - biology , host (biology) , agronomy , diapause , larva , insect , pest analysis , legume , horticulture , botany , ecology
SUMMARY The Cowpea seed moth, Cydia ptychora , was able to complete its full life‐cycle on a wide range of tropical grain legumes. In glasshouse tests, the adult moth showed oviposition p references between grain legume species but not between cowpea varieties, although there were differences in larval damage to the seeds of the latter. On cowpea, most eggs were laid on 8–10‐day‐old pods and also in particular micro‐habitats; such behaviour was seemingly influenced by the mode of pod carriage. The moth undergoes no known diapause during the dry season in southern Nigeria and cowpea plants in a suitable condition are infested throughout the year. Wild leguminous hosts were not identified during the present study.