Ovipositional Sites of Eoreuma loftini (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Sugarcane

Oviposition habits of Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) were examined in sugarcane in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Moths oviposited in cryptic sites located on dead, dry leaves and whorls. Plant samples indicated that 96.0% of the total number of eggs collected were located in the basal portion (between ground level and 80 cm height) of the sugarcane plant. Early in the growing season (June to July), initial oviposition was predominantly on dead leafblades (73%), but as dead shoots became more abundant (August to November) oviposition shifted to whorls of dead shoots (84%). Overall, eggs were predominately laid on leaves and whorls of dead shoots (89.4%) as opposed to dead leaves attached to green plants (10.6%). Several egg masses were found parasitized by Trichogramma retorridum (Girault).