Larval Feeding and Ovipositional Preference of Sesamia Cretica Led. On Certain Corn Hybrids

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the staple foods for the majority of Egyptian farmers. Maize foliage is also a major constituent in cattle feeds. It is cultivated in an area of about 1.7 million feddan annually (Anonymous 2001). Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in much of the developing world. It grows over wider geographical range and different ecological conditions than any other cereal crop, the maize considered to be the second most important cereal crops to wheat on global basis (CIMMYT & EARO, 1999). The annual cultivated area with maize covers about two million feddan. (Mesbah et al., 2002). The Pink Stem Borer, Sesamia cretica Led. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious pest threatening maize (Zea mays L.) plants in Egypt Metwally (2015).