Melamed-Madjar, V., Div. of Entomology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Tam, S., Div. of Entomology, ARO, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel

A survey of corn borer populations in fields of sweet and fodder corn showed that Chilo agamemnon (Bles.) was the main pest of corn in Israel in 1969 and 1970, after which the population size gradually decreased. The population of another pest, Sesamia cretica (Led.), also decreased, probably due to reductions in the sorghum acreage in Israel; the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hb.), was found in very small numbers. On the other hand, Sesamia nonagrioides (Lef.) has gradually increased in number and is now the main pest attacking all corn varieties in Israel. These changes are believed to be due to alterations in agricultural practices - such as irrigation, to changes in the acreage of the host plants, and to the introduction of new varieties. © 1980 Springer Science + Business Media B.V.