RUPELA-ALBINELLA (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE) OVIPOSITION BEHAVIOR AND EGG DISTRIBUTION ON RICE PLANTS

Oviposition by a rice stem borer, Rupela albinella (Cramer), was studi ed on rice plants. Moths preferred to oviposit on plants older than 50 days. Foliage was highly preferred over stems as oviposition sites. T hree times as many egg masses were deposited on the abaxial leaf surfa ce as compared with the adaxial leaf surface. Leaves two and three wer e preferred for oviposition. Of eight cultivars tested Viflor was pref erred for oviposition, while Tapuripa, another Peruvian line, had fewe r egg masses.