MEXICAN RICE BORER (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE) REPRODUCTIVE RESPONSES TODELAYED MATING

Adult longevity, fecundity, and fertility of Mexican rice borer, Eoreu ma loftini (Dyar), females mated at 0, 1, 3, and 5 d after eclosion we re examined under reversed photoperiodic and thermoperiodic conditions . Mating delays of 1 to 5 d did not significantly affect longevity. On e- to 5-d delays in mating reduced fecundity primarily by shortening t he oviposition period; however, females did not oviposit their entire egg complement regardless of mating age. The proportion of fertile egg s was not significantly reduced by mating delays of <5 d. Fertility wa s reduced by mating delays of 3 or 5 d, but these reductions were > 50 % only when mating was delayed for 5 d. Substantial reductions in fert ility of E. loftini populations in response to synthetic pheromone app lications would probably require that mating of most females be disrup ted or delayed for >5 d.