Host-Plant Specialization in Pheromone Strains of the European Corn Borer Ostrinia nubilalis in France

The European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner, 1796) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a polyphagous corn pest species that includes two host races: one feeding on corn (Zea mays L.) and one feeding on mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.) and hop (Humulus lupulus L.). Being able to determine the type of host plant on which field-caught moths fed as larvae would allow for the quantification of mating rates within and between races, as well as the quantification of the spatial distribution and oviposition of both races in the field. We found that stable carbon isotopes (δ;13C) are a reliable indicator of host-plant photosynthetic type (C3 or C4) regardless of adult food and intensity of metabolism; so even when food or metabolism had a significant effect on wing δ13C values, the magnitude of this effect was too small to obscure the signal characterizing host-plant type. Egg and spermatophore δ13C values similarly reflect female and male host-plant type, respectively, regardless of adult feeding. We found 224 host-plant species of O. nubilalis in the literature, including 19 species with C4-type photosynthesis. However, in temperate areas, corn is probably the only significant C4 source of adult moths. Accordingly, wing δ13C values were more variable in field-caught moths showing a typical C3-type δ13C value than in those showing a typical C4-type δ13C value.

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GENETIC ISOLATION BETWEEN TWO SYMPATRIC HOST-PLANT RACES OF THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER, OSTRINIA NUBILALIS HÜBNER. I. SEX PHEROMONE, MOTH EMERGENCE TIMING, AND PARASITISM

Evolution ◽

10.1554/0014-3820(2003)057[0261:gibtsh]2.0.co;2 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 57 (2) ◽

pp. 261 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Yan Thomas ◽

Marie-Thérèse Bethenod ◽

Laurent Pelozuelo ◽

Brigitte Frérot ◽

Denis Bourguet

Keyword(s):

Sex Pheromone ◽

Host Plant ◽

Ostrinia Nubilalis ◽

European Corn Borer ◽

Genetic Isolation ◽

Corn Borer

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Evaluation of European Corn Borer Resistance in Hardy Chrysanthemum

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898-6.1.15 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 15-17

Author(s):

P. B. Schultz ◽

M. A. Coffelt

Keyword(s):

Host Plant ◽

Plant Resistance ◽

Ostrinia Nubilalis ◽

Host Plant Resistance ◽

European Corn Borer ◽

Significant Positive Correlation ◽

Field Monitoring ◽

Laboratory Studies ◽

Corn Borer ◽

Positive Correlation

Resistance of 12 yellow and 12 bronze chrysanthemum cultivars to the European com borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner), was evaluated in laboratory studies. Yellow cultivars ‘Freedom’, ‘Classic’, ‘Compatriot’, and ‘Fortune’ and bronze cultivar ‘Pancho’ had significantly lower infestation percentages. In field monitoring of chrysanthemum grown in commercial nurseries, the cultivar ‘Fireside Cushion’ was significantly lower at both nurseries, with cultivars ‘Buckeye’, ‘Grenadine’, and ‘Viking’ also having significantly lower infestation percentages. A significant positive correlation between infestation levels and stem diameters indicated stem thickness may be an indicator of host plant resistance.

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