Comparative Demography of Sesamia cretica Lederer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on its Two the Most Important Natural Hosts, Maize and Sugarcane

Demographic parameters of the pink stem borer, Sesamia cretica Lederer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) were estimated on its two main host plants, maize and sugarcane. The present study was conducted under laboratory conditions at 27±1 ̊C, 50±10% Relative Humidity (RH %), and a photoperiod of 0:24 (L:D) hour for the larval stage and 16:8 (L:D) hour for the other life stages. The raw data were analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. For estimating the SE of the population parameters, the bootstrap technique was applied. Total pre-adult developmental periods of the pink stem borer were 51.95 and 39.51 days on maize and sugarcane, respectively. The oviposition periods were 5.03 and 5.38 days and fecundity was 118.04 and 142.88 eggs on maize and sugarcane, respectively. Peaks of reproductive value occurred at ages 49 and 38 days when reared on maize and sugarcane, respectively. The net Reproductive rate R0, intrinsic rates of increase r and finite rate of increase λ of S. cretica were 53.58 offspring, 0.0937 day and 1.0983 day on sugarcane and 39.54 offspring, 0.0672 day and 1.0695 day on maize, respectively. The mean generation Time (T) of the pink stem borer was 42.41 and 54.57 days on sugarcane and maize, respectively. There was significant difference between demographic parameters of S. cretica on maize and sugarcane. The results showed that there was higher reproductive performance and population growth of S. cretica on sugarcane than on maize.