STUDIES ON THE MAIZE STEM BORER, BUSSEOLA-FUSCA (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE) AND ITS MAJOR PARASITOID, DOLICHOGENIDEA-FUSCIVORA (HYMENOPTERA, BRACONIDAE), IN EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Studies on the lepidopterous stem borer, Busseola fusca (Fuller) and i ts major larval parasitoid, Dolichogenidea fuscivora Walker were carri ed out in the field and the laboratory in eastern Ethiopia. Larvae of B. fusca are also parasitized in the field by the braconid, Bracon ses amine Cameron and the sarcophagid, Sarcophaga sp., but in low numbers. Parasitism of B. fusca by D. fuscivora is as high as 71% during the d ry season (November-March) and approximately 18% in the wet season (Ju ne-September). Dolichogenidea fuscivora is active throughout the year. Ln the laboratory it requires nearly 26 days at 24 +/- 1 degrees C to complete the development of one generation (egg to egg laying). Longe vity of adults is affected by the availability of food and water. Mati ng and oviposition reduced the Life spans of males and females, respec tively. Sixty five to 75 larvae emerged from eggs laid by a single fem ale. The sex ratio ranged from 1:1 to 7:1 (female:male), the average b eing 5:1.