Ashok K. Raina. 1982. Fecundity and oviposition behaviour of the sorghum shootfly, Atherigona soccata. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 31: 381-385.

Abstract

Fecundity and oviposition behaviour of the sorghum shootfly, Atherigona soccata Rond. were studied under controlled conditions on CSH‐1, a susceptible sorghum hybrid. Females laid an average of 78.4 ± 5.5 eggs. Males and females lived for an average of 7 and 17 days, respectively. Under low infestation (average 1.2 eggs/plant) egg distribution followed a Poisson distribution. The middle region of the abaxial surface and the 4th leaf of a 5‐leaf‐stage plant were most preferred for oviposition. Green colour and a surface with ridges were preferred to white and/or smooth substrate for oviposition. The adaptive significance of some of these observations is discussed.