OVIPOSITION PREFERENCE OF SPODOPTERA-LATIFASCIA (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) FOR SORGHUM, MAIZE AND NONCROP VEGETATION

Oviposition preferences of Spodoptera latifascia (Walker) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) for sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Poaceae)], maiz e [Zea mays it.) (Poaceae)], and various non-crop species were examine d in field cage experiments. A higher percentage (pooled means) of the total number of eggs per plant were laid on Amaranthus sp. (probably A. hybridus L. or A. viridis L.) (Amaranthaceae) 24%, maize 32%, and I xophorus unisetus (Presl.) Schlecht (Poaceae) 26%, than on Ipomoea sp. [(probably I. purpurea (L.) Jacq.] (Convolvulacea) 2%, Melampodium di varicatum (Rich. ex pers.) Dc. (Asteraceae) 6%, Portulaca oleracea L. (Portulacaceae) 7%, and sorghum 3%. Only maize had a significantly hig her percentage of the total number of eggs laid per plant than the oth er plant species in one of two experiments. Plant growth stage (seedli ng vs. older) did not appear to influence oviposition on any of the pl ant species tested. Moths exhibited a wide host oviposition range in o ur cage experiments. In contrast, eggs were collected only from Amaran thus sp., I, unisetus, and maize in the field in southern Honduras, su ggesting that S. latifascia oviposition response in nature may be some what restricted to certain non-crop species and maize. Our data suppor t results from previous investigations revealing the potential benefit s of non-crop host plants in reducing damage by S. latifascia to sorgh um and maize in intercropped production fields during the early growin g season in southern Honduras.