Abstract:

Aiming to provide basis for effective control of Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis in waxy corn fields,investigations and research was conducted on Occurrence and Damage Characteristics of O. furnacalis in the main producing area of waxy corn of Shanxi Province. Attraction and collection of the imagoes, fixed-points and random investigations on eggs and larvae were the main methodology of this research. There were two generations of O. furnacalis in a year in the field of waxy corn. The two generations had a significant interval and were non-overlapped. Early-June through mid-June was the peak period of the overwintering generation imagoes broke out and the peak period of the first generation imagoes broke out was from early-August to late-August. The first peak period of oviposition was from the end of early-June to the beginning of late-June,and the middle of early-August through late-August was the second peak period of oviposition. The oviposition tendency of O. furnacalis in different growing stages of waxy corn was, before tasseling of the waxy corn, O. furnacalis was more attracted by the waxy corn to oviposit with the progression of the growing stage; after tasseling of the waxy corn, O. furnacalis was less attracted by the waxy corn to oviposit with the progression of the growing stage. The number of eggs laid on waxy corn with basically concerted growth in the same growing stage is comparatively larger than eggs laid on ordinary corn. The second generation of O. furnacalis larvae posted more serious damage than the first generation. The first generation of larvae posted more serious damage on waxy corn in early sowing field than mid sowing fields, while waxy corn in late sowing fields was little damaged by the first generation. Due to little hatching intensity of the first generation larvae, though waxy corn in both early sowing and the mid sowing fields were damaged, the damage was relatively light. The damage posted on waxy corn by the second generation larvae was more serious in late sowing fields than in the mid sowing field. Waxy corn in early sowing fields was lightly or even not damaged by the second generation larvae in a normal year, because it was harvested in the initial stage of damage by the second generation larvae. The second generation of larvae posted serious damage to waxy corn sowed late in the mid sowing field and in late sowing fields. The incidence of waxy corn ear rot disease is closely related to the damage dealt by O. furnacalis. The incidence of ear rot disease is higher if corn ear was damaged by O. furnacalis. Comprehensive control on the second generation in the mid and late sowing field of waxy corn should be strengthened.