Inventory of Host Plants and Parasitoids of the Fall Armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith), in the Southern Agricultural Zone of Niger

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith), is a polyphagous pest reported in sub-Saharan Africa since 2016 and has expanded rapidly in almost Africa. In Niger, Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) is considered like a major pest of maize, to which it causes significant damage, in a context where proven control methods against this moth remain almost non-existent. The objective of the present study was to determine the economic importance of FAW through the damage caused to the different host plants and to identify the parasitoids of this caterpillar. The study was conducted in the southern agricultural zone of Niger, specifically in the regions of Dosso, Maradi, Tahoua and Zinder. FAW eggs and caterpillars were collected from six villages in each region and then incubated and reared in the entomology laboratory of INRAN in Maradi. The rate of infestation of the different crops by FAW was determined as well as the observation of the beneficiaries. The results obtained indicate the presence of FAW on millet with an attack rate varying from 45.7% to 68%, sorghum with 47.2% to 62.25% and sesame with 9.7%. This work also revealed an oophagous parasitoid, Telenomus remus with 138 ± 23 and larval parasitoids, Cotesia sp with 16 ± 1 maximum number of individuals emerged from the collected material. Also, it was identified the parasitoid Cotesia icipe with a rate of parasitism from 4.6% to 5.75%;the Charops ater whose rate of parasitism varies from 4.5% and 12.25% but for Chelonus insularis with 17.25% and Tachnidae with 53%. These very interesting results will constitute a basis for the development of biological control and a component of an agroecological management strategy of caterpillar.

Diversity, Host Plant Range and Distribution of Thrips spp. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Three Vegetable Production Basins in Burkina Faso

Onion is the most important vegetable produced in Burkina Faso. It contributes to food and nutrition security and is a source of income for farmers. Thrips, which feed on the leaves of the plant, are the main insect pest of onion. The objective of this study was to access the diversity, the host range and the distribution of Thrips spp. in three main onion production areas in Burkina Faso. Three sites were chosen in each vegetable production basin, and plant species present were sampled and inspected to determine their thrips’ infestation status. Seventeen cultivated or wild plant species were attacked by thrips. The incidence of attacks was highest on zucchini plants followed by cucumber, eggplant, and onion, respectively. Six thrips species were recorded of which Thrips tabaci (Lindemman) represented more than 70% of the total. The average density of Thrips spp. per plant varied significantly between production basins and plant species. The highest average number of Thrips spp. per plant was recorded on zucchini (40.28 ± 10.28;17.43 ± 13.48 and 14.33 ± 7.11 respectively in the North, Hauts Bassins, and Central Plateau). This study provided basic information that can lead to further research and the development of control methods.

EFFECT OF HOST PLANTS AND INOCULUM FORMS ON THE INOCULUM POTENTIAL OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI

The effects of inoculum forms (single-spore, multi-spores, or colonized root pieces) and host plants (Nicotiana tabacum L., Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf, and Trifolium repens L.) on the development and inoculum potential (IP) of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) :Glo-mus macrocarpum Tul & Tul, donuis mosseae (Nicol & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe, Glomus ver-siforme (Karsten) Berch, and Sclerocystis sinu/osa Gerdemann & Bakhi cultured in pots were investigated. The lag phase of treatment with 50 spores or 0.5 g (fresh weight) of colonized root pieces was 4 weeks, much shorter than that of the treatment with 1 spore (8 weeks); the value of IP (VIP) and percentage of root colonization (PRC) of the former were greater than those of the latter. Only on the early stages of colonization was there difference between the 50 spores and the 0.5 g (fresh weight) of colonized root piece inoculation treatments. The EP per plant inoculated with 0.5 g (fresh weight) of colonized root pieces of AMF was greater than that of the other two treatments except G. versiforme on Nicotiana tabacum, while the PRC of the plants inoculated with 50 spores and 0.5 g (fresh weight) of colonized root pieces of AMF was higher than that of the 1 spore inoculation after 10 weeks. Trie VIP of AMF on Trifolium repens was significantly higher than that on the other two hosts. The VIP of G. mosseae, G. versiforme, and S. sinuosa was respectively greater than that of G. macrocarpum. This suggested that different species of AMF produced different VIP of the inoculum . Nicotiana tabacum was much better than the other host plants which used to be inoculated with single spore, and to produce inocula of AMF.

Olfactory Responses of Tomicus yunnanensis to Different Non-host Plants

[ Objective ] With Cupressustorulosa, Cinnamomum camphora and Cyclobalanopsis Oerst as test materials, the paper studied the effects of different non- host plants on olfactory responses of Tomicus yunnanensis. [ Method ] The needles of Pinus yunnanensis were mixed with the leaves of Cupressustondosa, C. cam- phora and C. Oerst according to the ratios of 0 g ： 6 g, 1 g ： 5 g, 2 g ： 4 g, 3 g ： 3 g, 4 g ： 2 g, 5 g ： 1 g and 6 g ： 0 g, and the mixtures were put in the re- spanse arm of Y-tube olfactometer as odor source to observe the olfactory behavior of T. yunnanensis, the empty arm was set as control. [ Result ] When the needles of P. yunnanensis were mixed with the leaves of non-hest plants according to the ratio of 1 g ： 5 g and 2 g ： 4 g, they had less difference on attractive rate to T. yun- nanensis compared with complete P. yunnanensis needles in mixture （ratio： 6 g ： 0 g）, and the maximum difference was 14%. When the needles ofP. yunnanen- sis were mixed with non-host leaves according to the ratio of 1 g ： 5 g, 2 g ： 4 g, the attractive rate to T. yunnanensis decreased compared with complete P. yun- nanensis needles in mixture （ ratio： 6 g ： 0 g）, and the decrease value in maximum was 40%. [ Conclusion] When the ratio of non-host plants was relatively small in mixed leaves, non-host had less impact on olfactory responses of T. yunnanensis. As the proportion of non-hest leaves gradually increased, the attractive rate of leaf mixtures to T. yunnanensis was gradually small. The results could provide reference for determination of mixed ratio in construction of mixed forest and the de- velopment of botanical attractive and repellent of T. yunnanensis.

The Efficiency of Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus Transmission by the Vector Sogatella furcifera to Different Host Plant Species

Southern rice black-streaked dwarf disease is a new rice disease that severely affects rice production in South China.To understand transmission capacity of the vector Sogatella furcifera to Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus（SRBSDV） among different host plant species,potential host plants of SRBSDV collected from the diseased rice field and/or adjacent to the field in Hunan Province,China,were determined by RT-PCR,and the transmission rates of SRBSDV by S.furcifera among different host plant species were investigated.The results showed that host plants of SRBSDV in the rice fields were five of family Gramineae（Oryza sativa,Echinochloa crusgalli,Zea mays,Paspalum distichum,Alopecurus aequali） and two of family Cyperaceae（Juncellus serotinus and Cyperus difformis）.S.furcifera could not transmit SRBSDV between gramineous plants and cyperaceous plants,and could not transmit SRBSDV between the gramineous plants,J.serotinus and C.difformis as well.However,SRBSDV could be transmitted by S.furcifera within gramineous plants.S.furcifera could transmit SRBSDV between interspecies among three species plants（O.sativa,E.crusgalli and Z.mays）,and between P.distichum and A.aequali.At 15,20,25,30,and 35°C,both macropterous and brachypterous adult of S.furcifera could transmit SRBSDV from the plants（e.g.,E.crusgalli,Z.mays and O.sativa） infected with SRBSDV to rice seedlings.The transmission rates were first increased and then decreased with the increase of temperature.Macropterous adults transmitted SRBSDV from the viruliferous E.crusgalli,Z.may and rice plants to the healthy rice seedlings,and the infected rates of rice seedlings were 26.2,18.8 and 23.7% at 15°C,56.6,64.6 and 53.6% at 25°C,and was 11.2,10.2 and 7.3% at 35°C,respectively.Transmission capacity of brachypterous adults was significantly higher than that of macropterous adults at 15,20 and 25°C（P0.05）,while transmission capacity of brachypterous adults was relatively lower compared with that of macropterous ones at 35°C.These results offer evidence on the transmission of SRBSDV via the vector S.furcifer among different host plants,which can be helpful to control Southern rice black-streaked dwarf disease by the appropriate cultural measures in South China.

Effect of Host Plants on Development,Fecundity and Enzyme Activity of Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)(Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)

The beet armyworm,Spodoptera exigua （Lepidoptera：Noctuidae）,is an economically important pest of crops worldwide,attacking plants from over 20 families including trans-continental agricultural cotton,corn and citrus crops.In this study,performance and subsequent enzyme activity of beet armyworm reared on host plants from five families were investigated.Significant differences were found in development,fecundity and enzyme activity on different host plants.Survival rate was the highest （42.8%） on asparagus lettuce （Lactuca sativar var.asparagina） and the lowest （17.0%） on sweet pepper （Capsicum annuum）.Larval duration was the shortest on asparagus lettuce （12.0 d）,and was 43.4% longer on sweet peppers （21.2 d）.The activity of acetylcholine esterase （AChE） and carboxylesterase （CarE） in 3rd instar larvae,and soluble carbohydrate and crude protein contents in different host plants were determined.AChE activity was the highest in the larvae feeding on Chinese cabbage （Brassica rapa）,but declined by nearly 60% on maize （Zea mays） seedlings.The ratio of soluble carbohydrate content to crude protein content in host plants was found to have a positive effect on oviposition and a negative correlation with larval duration and life time （from larval to adult stages） of the insect.

Selectiveness of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis to Host Plants

A field experiment was conducted to study the selectiveness of Cnaphalocrocis medinalis Guenee （commonly known as the rice leaffolder or rice leafroller） towards five rice varieties （Yangfujing 8, Yangdao 6, Shanyou 136, Huaidao 9 and Nin.gjing 1） and three weed species （Echinochloa crusgalli, Leptochloa chinensis and Leersia hexandra）. The results showed that the rice varieties carried significantly higher numbers of C. medinalis moths and eggs than the weed species. Among the rice varieties, Yangfujing 8 was associated with a higher moth number. However, there was little difference in the number of C. medinalis eggs among the rice varieties. Additionally, a laboratory experiment was performed to investigate the olfactory response of female C. medinalis towards volatile compounds from different rice varieties, as well as its oviposition preference towards these rice varieties. The volatiles of Yangfujing 8, Yangdao 6 and Shanyou 136 attracted C. medinalis similarly to those of TN 1. In contrast, the volatiles of Huaidao 9 and Ningjing 1 clearly deterred C. medinalis. Nevertheless, C. medinalis did not exhibit clear oviposition preference towards any of the five tested rice varieties.

Inter-species mRNA transfer among green peach aphids,dodder parasites,and cucumber host plants

mRNAs are transported within a plant through phloem.Aphids are phloem feeders and dodders(Cuscuta spp.)are parasites which establish phloem connections with host plants.When aphids feed on dodders,whether there is trafficking of mRNAs among aphids,dodders,and host plants and if aphid feeding a匚fects the mRNA transfer between dodders and hosts are unclear.We constructed a green peach aphid(GPA,Myzus persicae)-dodder(Cuscuta austra/is)-cucumber(Cucumis sativus)tritrophic system by infesting GPAs on C.australis,which parasitized cucumber hosts.We found that GPA feeding activated defense-related phytohormonal and transcriptomic responses in both C.australis and cucumbers and large numbers of mRNAs were found to be transferred between C.australis and cucumbers and between C.australis and GPAs;importantly,GPA feeding on C.australis greatly altered inter-species mobile mRNA profiles.Furthermore,three cucumber mRNAs and three GPA mRNAs could be respectively detected in GPAs and cucumbers.Moreover,our statistical analysis indicated that mRNAs with high abundances and long transcript lengths are likely to be mobile.This study reveals the existence of inter-species and even inter-kingdom mRNA movement among insects,parasitic plants,and parasite hosts,and suggests complex regulation of mRNA trafficking.

Effect of Pesticides on Growth of Rhizobia and Their Host Plants During Symbiosis

Effect of various pesticides (insecticides, fungicides and herbicides) has been studied on growth and efficiency of symbiotic properties of 3 fast growing Rhizobium sp. under green house conditions. The results revealed adverse effects on plant growth and nitrogen fixing capacity as measured by dry weight and total nitrogen content of plants infected with pesticide treated Rhizobium. Of the pesticides tested, herbicides were found to be more effective on the above parameters than the insecticides and fungicides.

Alternative Host Plants of Calidea panaethiopica (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) and Aphtona whitfieldi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Insect Pests of Jatropha curcas, South Burkina Faso

Jatropha curcas is subject to the attacks of many insect pests, including Calidea panaethiopica Kirkaldy 1909 (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) whose larvae and adults feed on flowers, fruit and seeds of the shrub resulting in quantitative and qualitative losses;the shrub is also attacked by Aphthona whitfieldi Bryan (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) which feeds on the leaves causing complete defoliation in severe attack. Despite their economic importance, very little is known about the alternative host plants of these insect pests. The study of the ecology of these species is a pre-requisite for the development of appropriate control methods. The identification of alternative host plants of C. panaethiopica and A. whitfieldi was conducted from June 3rd 2013 to November 30th 2014 in the Sissili province, South Burkina Faso. During that period, four J. curcas’ plantations of six locations in the province were prospected for alternative host plants of the two insect pests. In each plantation, observations were done across a diagonal up to 500 m away from the plantation. Fallows in the vicinity of the J. curcas plantations were particularly examined. Potential host plants of the two insect pests were collected and bred in the laboratory in Léo where they were used to feed the insect pests. Only Jatropha gossypiifolia, a cousin of J. curcas, was found to be a common alternative host plant of both insect pests.

Alternative Host Plants of <i>Calidea panaethiopica</i>(Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) and <i>Aphtona whitfieldi</i>(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Insect Pests of <i>Jatropha curcas</i>, South Burkina Faso

Jatropha curcas is subject to the attacks of many insect pests, including Calidea panaethiopica Kirkaldy 1909 (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) whose larvae and adults feed on flowers, fruit and seeds of the shrub resulting in quantitative and qualitative losses;the shrub is also attacked by Aphthona whitfieldi Bryan (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) which feeds on the leaves causing complete defoliation in severe attack. Despite their economic importance, very little is known about the alternative host plants of these insect pests. The study of the ecology of these species is a pre-requisite for the development of appropriate control methods. The identification of alternative host plants of C. panaethiopica and A. whitfieldi was conducted from June 3rd 2013 to November 30th 2014 in the Sissili province, South Burkina Faso. During that period, four J. curcas’ plantations of six locations in the province were prospected for alternative host plants of the two insect pests. In each plantation, observations were done across a diagonal up to 500 m away from the plantation. Fallows in the vicinity of the J. curcas plantations were particularly examined. Potential host plants of the two insect pests were collected and bred in the laboratory in Léo where they were used to feed the insect pests. Only Jatropha gossypiifolia, a cousin of J. curcas, was found to be a common alternative host plant of both insect pests.

Mutual Information Flow between Beneficial Microorganisms and the Roots of Host Plants Determined the Bio-Functions of Biofertilizers

Modern agriculture is facing new challenges in which ecological and molecular approaches are being integrated to achieve higher crop yields while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. The application of biofertilzers could meet this requirement. Biofertilizer is a natural organic fertilizer that helps to provide all the nutrients required by the plants and helps to increase the quality of the soil with a natural microorganism environment. This paper reviewed the types of biofertilzers, the biological basic of biofertilizers in plant growth promotion. This paper also assayed the bidirectional information exchange between plant-microbes in rhizoshpere and the signal pathway of plant growth- promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) in the course of plant infection. At last, the challenges of the application and the promising future of biofertilizers were also discussed.

Large-scale interplant exchange of macromolecules between soybean and dodder under nutrient stresses

Parasitic plants and their hosts communicate through haustorial connections.Nutrient deficiency is a common stress for plants,yet little is known about whether and how host plants and parasites communicate during adaptation to such nutrient stresses.In this study,we used transcriptomics and proteomics to analyze how soybean(Glycine max)and its parasitizing dodder(Cuscuta australis)respond to nitrate and phosphate deficiency(-N and-P).After-N and-P treatment,the soybean and dodder plants exhibited substantial changes of transcriptome and proteome,although soybean plants showed very few transcriptional responses to-P and dodder did not show any transcriptional changes to either-N or-P.Importantly,large-scale interplant transport of mRNAs and proteins was detected.Although the mobile mRNAs only comprised at most 0.2%of the transcriptomes,the foreign mobile proteins could reach 6.8%of the total proteins,suggesting that proteins may be the major forms of interplant communications.Furthermore,the interplant mobility of macromolecules was specifically affected by the nutrient regimes and the transport of these macromolecules was very likely independently regulated.This study provides new insight into the communication between host plants and parasites under stress conditions.

Host plant choice in the comma butterfly-larval choosiness may ameliorate effects of indiscriminate oviposition

In most phytophagous insects, the larval diet strongly affects future fitness and in species that do not feed on plant parts as adults, larval diet is the main source of nitrogen. In many of these insect-host plant systems, the immature larvae are considered to be fully dependent on the choice of the mothers, who, in turn, possess a highly developed host recognition system. This circumstance allows for a potential mother-offspring conflict, resulting in the female maximizing her fecundity at the expense of larval performance on suboptimal hosts. In two experiments, we aimed to investigate this relationship in the polyphagous comma butterfly, Polygonia c-album, by comparing the relative acceptance of low- and medium-ranked hosts between females and neonate larvae both within individuals between life stages, and between mothers and their offspring. The study shows a variation between females in oviposition acceptance of low-ranked hosts, and that the degree of acceptance in the mothers correlates with the probability of acceptance of the same host in the larvae. We also found a negative relationship between stages within individuals as there was a higher acceptance of lower ranked hosts in females who had abandoned said host as a larva. Notably, however, neonate larvae of the comma butterfly did not unconditionally accept to feed from the least favorable host species even when it was the only food source. Our results suggest the possibility that the disadvantages associated with a generalist oviposition strategy can be decreased by larval participation in host plant choice.

Host plants and natural enemies of Bemisia tabaci （Hemiptera： Aleyrodidae）in China

The sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, has been a destructive pest in China for over the past two decades. It is an extremely polyphagous insect, being recorded feeding on hundreds of host plants around the world. Potential host plants and natural enemies of B. tabaci in the south, southeast, middle, north and northwest of China were investigated during the last decade. In total 361 plant species from 89 families were recorded in our surveys. Plants in the families Compositae, Cruciferae, Cucurbitaceae, Solanaceae and Leguminosae were the preferred host species for B. tabaci, which therefore suffered much damage from this devastating pest due to their high populations. In total, 56 species of parasitoids, 54 species of arthropod predators and seven species of entomopathogenic fungi were recorded in our surveys. Aphelinid parasitoids from Encarsia and Eretrnocerus genera, lady beetles and lacewings in Coleoptera and Neuroptera were found to be the dominant arthropod predators of B. tabaci in China. The varieties of host plant, their distribution and the dominant species of natural enemies of B. tabaci in different regions of China are discussed.

Host plant mediation of diapause induction in the cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi Baly （Coleoptera： Chrysomelidae）

The cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringiBaly （Coleoptera： Chrysomelidae）, is a serious pest of crucifers in China, undergoing an imaginal summer and winter diapause in the soil. The effects of host plants on diapause incidence were tested in the beetle. The ratio of adults entering diapause was significantly low when they fed on the mature leaves of Chinese cabbage Shanghaiqin （Brassica chinesis var communis） than those feeding on Chinese cabbage Suzhouqin （Brassica chinesis var communis）, radish （Raphanus sativus var longipinnatus） and stem mustard （Brassicajuncea vat tumida） at 25℃ combined with 13：11 （L： D） h. Fewer adults entered diapause on young leaves compared to physiologically aged and mature radish leaves at 25℃ combined with 13：11 （L： D） h. The effect of host plant species on diapause induction was also evident under continuously dark rearing conditions or at different photoperiods. These experimental results demonstrate that host plant mediation of diapause induction exists in the cabbage beetle. However, at temperatures ≤20℃ or photoperiods of 16：8 （L： D） h combined with 25℃, all individuals entered diapause regardless of the host plants, indicating that the effects of host plants on diapause induction could be expressed only within a limited range of temperatures and photoperiods.

Extensive Inter-plant Protein Transfer between Cuscuta Parasites and Their Host Plants

Cuscuta species(dodders)are holoparasites that totally rely on host plants to survive.Although various mobile proteins have been identified to travel within a plant,whether and to what extent protein transfer between Cuscuta and host plants remain unclear.We found that hundreds to more than 1500 proteins were transferred between Cuscuta and the host plants Arabidopsis and soybean,and hundreds of interplant mobile proteins were even detected in the seeds of Cuscuta and the host soybean.Different hosts bridge-connected by dodder were also found to exchange hundreds of proteins.Quantitatively,the mobile proteins represent a few to more than 10%of the proteomes of foreign plants.Using Arabidopsis plants expressing different reporter proteins,we further showed that these reporter proteins could travel between plants and,importantly,retained their activity in the foreign plants.Comparative analysis between the interplant mobile proteins and mRNAs indicated that the majority of mobile proteins were not de novo synthesized from the translocated mRNAs,but bona fide mobile proteins.We propose that large-scale inter-plant protein translocation may play an important role in the interactions between host plants and dodder and even among the dodder bridge-connected hosts.

Role of digestive protease enzymes and related genes in host plant adaptation of a polyphagous pest,Spodoptera frugiperda

The evolutionary success of phytophagous insects depends on their ability toefficiently exploit plants as a source of energy for survival.Herbivorous insects largelydepend on the efficiency,flexibility,and diversity of their digestive physiology and sophistication of their detoxification system to use chemically diverse host plants as foodsources.The fall armyworm,Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith),is a polyphagous pest ofmany commercially important crops.To elucidate the ability of this insect pest to adaptto host plant mechanisms,we evaluated the impact of primary(corn)and alternate(rice)host plants after 1l generations on gut digestive enzymatic activity and expression profiles of related genes.Results indicated that the total protease and classspecific trypsinand chymotrypsinlike protease activity of S.frugiperda significantly differed among hostplant treatments.The classspecifiq protease profiles greatly differed in S.frugiperdamidguts upon larval exposure to different treatments with inhibitors compared with treatments without inhibitors.Similarly,the single and cumulative effects of the enzymespecific inhibitors TLCK,TPCK,and E64 significantly increased larval mortality and reduced larval growth/mass across different plant treatments.Furthermore,the quantitativereverse transcription polymerase chain reaction results revealed increased transcription oftwo trypsin(SfTry3,SfTry7)and one chymotrypsin gene(Sfchym9),which indicatedthat they have roles in host plant adaptation.Knockdown of these genes resulted in significantly reduced mRNA expression levels of the trypsin genes.This was related to theincreased mortality observed in treatments compared with the dsRED control.This resultindicates possible roles of S.frugiperda gut digestive enzymes and related genes in hostplant adaptation.

Host plant selection of Chrysolina clathrata （Coleoptera： Chrysomelidae） from Mpumalanga, South Africa

Hyperaccumulated elements such as Ni may defend plants against some natural enemies whereas other enemies may circumvent this defense. The Ni hyperaccumulator Berkheya coddii Roessler （Asteraceae） is a host plant species for Chrysolina clathrata （Clark）, which suffers no apparent harm by consuming its leaf tissue. Beetle specimens collected from B. coddii had a whole body Ni concentration of 260μg/g dry weight, despite consuming leaf material containing 15 100μg Ni/g. Two experiments were conducted with adults of this beetle species： a no-choice experiment and a choice experiment. In the nochoice experiment we offered beetles foliage of one of four speeies ofBerkheya： B. coddii, B. rehmannii Thell. var. rogersiana Thell., B. echinacea （Harv.） O. Hoffm. ex Burtt Davey, and B. insignis （Harv.） Thell. The two former species are Ni hyperaccumulators （defined as having leafNi concentration 〉 1 000 μg/g） whereas the latter have low Ni levels （〈 200 μg/g） in their leaves. Masses of beetles were monitored for 6 days. Choice experiments used growing stem tips from the same Berkheya species, placed into Petri dishes with five Chrysolina beetles in each, and the amount of feeding damage caused on each of the four species was recorded. Beetles in the no-choice experiment gained mass when offered B. coddii, maintained mass on leaves of the other Ni hyperaccumulator （B. rehmannii var. rogersiana）, and lost mass when offered non-hyperaccumulator leaves. In the choice test, beetles strongly preferred B. coddii to other Berkheya species. We conclude that C. clathrata may be host-specific on B. coddii.

Long-term seasonal fluctuations of lepidopteran cereal stemborers and their natural enemies on maize and wild host plants in southern Benin

The seasonal fluctuation oflepidoptcran cereal stemborers on maize and wild host plants （i.e., grasses and a few sedges） was investigated in southern Benin from 1988 to 1998 by time series analysis and repeated-measures analysis of variance （ANOVA）. In addition, a walk-in light trap was used to study the flight behavior of adult moths. On both cereals and grasses, the noctuid Sesamia calaraistis was the predominant species, followed by the pyralid Eldana saccharina. The noctuid Busseolafusca was rare on both maize and wild host plants. In general, pest populations increased during the course of the year to reach peak densities during the second short rainy season, and then crashed to close to zero during the dry season. On wild host plants, egg masses and other immature stages were collected throughout the year but they were higher on wild grasses than maize during the off-season. Thus wild host plants can be considered as refuge for both borers and natural enemies during the off-season, when maize is not available. However, only four out of the eleven wild host species played a discernable role. S. calamistis egg densities appeared to be influenced by density-dependent factors, suggesting an effect of natural enemies. Temperature and rainfall had a negative effect on egg abundance. Larval parasitism by a Kenyan strain of the braconid Cotesia sesamiae, which was released in southern Benin in the early 1990s, and by the tachinid Sturmiopsisparasitica varied between seasons and years but there were no discernable patterns. For both parasitoids and borer host species, parasitism was positively correlated with trap catches of adult moths. The recovery of C. sesamiae during a 2-year period suggests that the parasitoid has established its population in southern Benin.