Sesamia nonagrioides is one of the most damaging pests of corn in Spain and other Mediterranean countries. Bt corn expressing the Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab toxin is being grown on about 58,000 ha in Spain. Here we studied the mode of action of this Cry protein on S. nonagrioides (binding to specific receptors, stability of binding, and pore formation) and the modes of action of other Cry pr...

Approximately 22 000 hectares (5% of the total maize growing area) of transgenic maize expressing the Cry1Ab toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt maize) have been planted annually in Spain since 1998. Changes in the susceptibility to Cry1Ab of Spanish populations of the Mediterranean corn borer (MCB), Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefebvre) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the European corn borer (ECB), ...

In Lepidoptera, host plant selection is first conditioned by oviposition site preference of adult females followed by feeding site preference of larvae. Dietary experience to plant volatile cues can induce larval and adult host plant preference. We investigated how the parent's and self-experience induce host preference in adult females and larvae of three lepidopteran stem borer species with d...

Various larvae of Lepidoptera cause severe damage to maize crops. The dynamics these pests have been studied during all stages plant development. trial was carried out on the Institut National Polytechnique Houphouët-Boigny farm plots in Yamoussoukro (central Cote d’Ivoire). study aims were monitor dynamics, determine importance (frequency and abundance), assess Lepidopteran variety EV8728 SR u...

The behavioural sequence of courtship and mating of Sesamia nonagrioides Lefèbvre males and females in laboratory cages is described. The attractant capacity of both sexes was studied by tethering males or females. The courtship and mating sequence of tethered females was the same as untethered ones, but tethered males were absolutely inactive. Age (1 day versus 2 days) did not affect the matin...

Misión Biológica de Galicia, Spanish Council for Scientific Research, Apartado 28, 36080 Pontevedra, Spain Butrón et al. 355 Abstract—The pink stem borer (PSB) (Sesamia nonagrioides Lefèbvre, 1827; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is the main insect pest of maize (Zea mays L., Poaceae) in the Mediterranean area. Maize varieties partially resistant to PSB have been identified, but few studies have docume...

Abstract Cannibalism and intraguild predation can play important roles in determining spread survival or death of organisms which share the same resource. However, relationship between cannibalism predation, costs benefits such behaviours, is difficult to establish within insect communities, little known about how behaviours are affected by invasive species. The present study was aimed at asses...