Influence of intercropping on the abundance, distribution and parasitism of Chilo spp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs

Abstract

AbstractTwo of the most common and serious pests of maize and sorghum in the coastal areas of East Africa are the pyralid species, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) and C. orichalcociliellus (Strand). Maize monocrop (with high and low plant density) and maize/cowpea mixed intercrop field experiments were conducted in Kenya to test if intercropping decreased the number of egg batches laid, altered the distribution of the egg batches and influenced egg parasitism. There was no significant difference in the number of egg batches per plant between treatments and the egg batches were randomly distributed on and among plants in most of the plots for all three treatments. There was a tendency for higher egg parasitism in the intercrop. The proportion of eggs parasitized was significantly correlated with total number of eggs per plot suggesting a positive density dependent response. It is concluded that intercropping does not affect C. partellus nor C. orichalcociliellus oviposition behaviour but egg parasitism is likely to be augmented.