Sampling Eoreuma loftini (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) on Texas sugarcane Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Sugarcane fields of different types were sampled for 3 yr to determine the seasonal density, spatial dispersion, and within-field stratification of larvae and pupae of Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar). Population density never exceeded 1.0 larva per stalk in any year. Ratoon fields of sugarcane regrowth averaged more larvae per stalk than plant cane or hot water-treated fields. There was a trend for hot water-treated fields to contain a higher proportion of younger larvae than other fields, an indication that infestations in hot water-treated fields come from moths migrating into the fields rather than from localized infestations from planted billets. Greater numbers of older larvae and pupae were found later in the season than earlier. There was more stalk-to-stalk and field-to-field variation in larval dispersion than among blocks, tiers, or plots within fields. Sample sizes for use in estimating E. loftini larval density with a defined level of reliability are presented.

published proceedings

  • ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY

author list (cited authors)

  • Meagher, R. L., Wilson, L. T., & Pfannenstiel, R. S.

citation count

  • 8

complete list of authors

  • Meagher, RL||Wilson, LT||Pfannenstiel, RS

publication date

  • January 1996