J. of Plant Protection and Pathology, Mansoura Univ., Vol 11 (12):635 - 637, 2020 Journal of Plant Protection and Pathology Journal homepage: www.jppp.mans.edu.eg Available online at: www.jppp.journals.ekb.eg * Corresponding author. E-mail address: youssef44ag@gmail.com DOI: Egg Laying and Feeding Preference of Sesamia cretica Led., on Primary and Secondary Hosts Youssef, M. A. M. * and A. M. Khorchid Field Crop Pests Dept., Plant Prot. Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center ala3liapc@gmail.com Cross Mark ABSTRACT Some graminaceous fodder crops were compared to grain sorghum for larval feeding and ovipositional preference by Sesamia cretica Led., under laboratory conditions. The percentages of S. cretica larvae attracted to each host of the four gramineous plants studied in free choice test after one hour, for the sorghum, broom corn, pearl millet and sudan grass were 20.00%, 10.00%, 20.00% and 24.00% of larvae, respectively, with no significant differences between them. The four gramineous plants studied in free choice test after 24 hours varied significantly, sudan grass was the most attractive crop (32.00%), however, broom corn was the lowest in attractiveness (8.00%). The non-responded larvae number decreased from 26.00% in one hour observation to 17.00% in 24 hours observation. Data indicated a strong ovipositional preference for pearl millet (34.46%), however, broom corn harbored the lowest percent of egg deposit (14.04%). Keywords: Host plants, S. cretica, Feeding preference, Ovipositional preference, Trap crop INTRODUCTION Grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) -a primary host- is one of the most important cereal crops. It is one of the main stable for the world poorest and more food- insecure people. It ranks the fourth of the world cereal crops after wheat, rice and maize. In Egypt, Sorghum is grown in all Upper Egypt governorates but most of the area is concentrated in Assiut and Sohag governorates and Fayoum governorate came after that (Abd El-Raouf et al., 2013). In Egypt, sorghum crop is attacked by different species of Lepidopteron insects. The most known and serious insect is the greater sugarcane borer, Sesamia cretica Led. This insect attacks sorghum plants after emergence, devours the whorl leaves and one of the most known symptoms of the pest is dead hearts (complete death of small sorghum plants). It is also, can damage older plants and making bores and tunnels into the stem (El-Rawy et al., 2013). In nature, corn borers are active sorghum fields between late spring and late autumn. They spend winter as hibernated full grown larvae, in the stored stalks of the crop. Adult moths emerge from the hibernating larvae consider the source of new infestation on the next year’s crop (Isa et al., 1969). Host plant resistance and cultural control always used in a control strategies, some with partial or local success, but without giving a complete solution (Kfir et al., 2002). In last years, habitat management strategies have been improved, such as the ‘push-pull’ method, a stimulo- deterrent diversionary tactic (Khan et al., 2000). Using ‘push-pull’ method, stem borers are attracted and retained on trap plants (pull) planted as border rows, and repellent intercrops (push) prevent them from infesting the crop. The effective use of this strategies needs a good understanding of the host selection and acceptance processes of the insect pest. As illustrated by Hora and Roessingh (1999). Wild host plants of gramineous stem borers play a significant role in their ecology (Khan et al.,2001;Haile & Hofsvang, 2002). The aim of the present work was to investigate the egg laying and feeding preference of S. cretica on primary and secondary host plants with respect to the potential use of secondary hosts as trap plants. MATERIALS AND METHODS Egg laying preference: Sesamia cretica: The final instars’ larvae which were about to pupate and pupae were collected from the maize stalks from the field. Pupae thus, collected were kept in glass jars (10 × 15 cm) for the emergence of adults. The male and female moths after emergence were transferred in a proportion of 1:1 to the oviposition cages containing the maize plants of 15-20 day old. Test plants: Four host plants, namely, sorghum, broom corn, pearl millet and sudan grass were used for this study. To establish plant materials for conducting this experiment, seeds of each host plant were sown in plastic pots one seed for pot. These plants were used for oviposition experiment. Oviposition bioassay: In free-choice bioassay, plant in plastic pots 15-20 days old from each crop were placed inside the oviposition cage (45 x 50 x 50 cm). Five pairs of moths of S. cretica (5 female and 5 male), brought together in the mating cage previous night, were released in the oviposition cage. After two days moths were removed from the cage and number of eggs laid on the leaf-sheaths of each hybrid, was counted.