Determination of Some Biological Properties of Corn Borers (Sesamia nonagrioides Lefebvre and Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner) in Çanakkale Maize Planting Areas

This study was conducted with the aim of determining of the some biological properties of corn borer in maize fields of Çanakkale province in 2012–2013. Pheromone traps for Sesamia nonagrioides Lefebvre, S. cretica Lederer (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) which are important pests of the maize plant, were placed at 1.5 m height with considering wind direction in maize growing period. Traps were checked weekly and number of adults was recorded. Also, randomly selected 100 plants in sampling plot of Batak plain were examined a weekly for pest infestation during two years. The maize stems infested with larvae in fields from the previous year were investigated to determine the hibernation of both pests. The infested stems with larvae were collected and later placed in cages to determine first adult flight. As a result of the study S. nonagrioides and O. nubilalis adults are caught in pheromone traps in all the sampling plots. But, S. cretica adult could not be obtained in traps. In the first year, 27.48% of the plants and second year, 8.4% were found to be infested with corn borer. In the first years Ostrinia nubilalis larvae was obtained from e most of infested plants. The number of adults captured in the traps was low for both species, thus the exact flight number couldn't be found. It was determined that, both pests hibernates in larval stage and adults of S. nonagrioides has started their flight at the mid of April. But the emergence of O. nubilalis adults was determined 20–25 days later than S. nonagrioides.