OVIPOSITION BEHAVIOR OF SESAMIA NONAGRIOIDES LEFEBVRE (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) - EFFECT OF CONSPECIFIC EGGS

S. nonagrioides behaviour is described according to the different stag es leading to oviposition. Flight in the wind tunnel is characterised by a zigzag trajectory against the flow. Once landing on maize, the fe male evaluates the surface of the plant with the antennae and the abdo men tip. This prospection step ends when the abdominal tip makes conta cts with the slit of the leaf sheath. The abdominal tip is introduced into the slit and the oviposition begins. Females lay a large majority of eggs during the first night following the mating night, mostly at the beginning of the scotophase. The presence of conspecific eggs on m aize, whether at a long range or in contact, does not have an effect o n the choice of the oviposition site.