scholarly journals Oviposition behaviour and emergence through time of the small blue butterfly (Cupido minimus) in a nature reserve in Bedfordshire, UK

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esme Ashe-Jepson ◽  
Andrew J. Bladon ◽  
Greg Herbert ◽  
Gwen E. Hitchcock ◽  
Richard Knock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Larval Survival ◽  
Oviposition Behaviour ◽  
Total Abundance ◽  
Egg Abundance ◽  
Adult Abundance ◽  
Cupido Minimus

Abstract Abstract Climate change affects butterflies in many ways, influencing the timing of emergence and reproduction, habitat preferences, and behaviour. The small blue (Cupido minimus Fuessley, 1775) is highly specialised in its host plant requirements, feeding on the seeds of a single species, kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), on which the larvae occur singly to avoid cannibalism. The butterfly is likely to be vulnerable to temperature-related changes in oviposition, adult emergence, and host plant flowering times, and is, therefore, a good model species for investigating climate change-related impacts. Using 26 years of data from the national UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (1993–2019) from one nature reserve, and 4 years of targeted egg searches (2006, 2007, 2008, 2020) from three reserves in Bedfordshire, UK, we investigated the effects of local temperature on small blue emergence date and total abundance, whether flowerhead or local environmental characteristics predicted small blue oviposition behaviour, and whether this changed between years. Small blue adults emerged on earlier dates over time, and earlier in years with higher maximum February temperatures. Total adult abundance was not predicted by monthly temperatures or total abundance in the previous year. Oviposition behaviour was broadly consistent across years, with egg presence more likely and egg abundance higher on kidney vetch flowerheads that were taller than the surrounding vegetation, and surrounded by taller vegetation and fewer mature flowerheads. The effect of solar radiation differed between years, with a negative effect on the probability of egg presence in 2007 and 2008, but a positive effect in 2020. Egg abundance per flowerhead was highly variable between years, with 2006 having four times more eggs per flowerhead than other years. This was likely driven by high adult abundance in 2006, which could have increased competition for flowerheads. Implications for insect conservation Our results indicate that management for greater availability of taller kidney vetch amongst taller vegetation would encourage small blue oviposition on a greater number of flowerheads, providing a possible means of reducing competition and increasing larval survival, and that this would be effective despite variation in adult abundance between years. The high level of competition we observed in the year with the highest adult abundance indicates that higher numbers of host plants should be encouraged to reduce competition and larval cannibalism in peak years, increasing the likelihood of long-term population persistence and growth.

​Screening of Pigeonpea Varieties through Nylon Bag No-choice Bioassay for Host Plant Resistance to Helicoverpa armigera

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.L. Jat ◽  
K.K. Dahiya ◽  
H.C. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Helicoverpa Armigera ◽  
Plant Resistance ◽  
Host Plant Resistance ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Larval Survival ◽  
Trichome Density ◽  
Larval Weight ◽  
Legume Pod Borer ◽  
Helicoverpa Armígera

Background: The legume pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), is one of the most damaging crop pests, including pigeonpea. Host plant resistance is a component of pest management and therefore, we standardize a nylon bag No-Choice Bioassay technique to screen for resistance to H. armigera under field conditions. Methods: Pigeonpea plants were infested with 24 h old 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 larvae per plant inside the nylon bag. Observations were recorded on pod damage, larval survival, larval weight, pupation, adult emergence, and fecundity after 10 days. Result: Pigeonpea varieties AL-201, H03-41 and PAU-881 exhibited lower pod damage (15.89 to 19.77%) and larval weight (12.02 to 13.82 mg). The expression of resistance to H. armigera was associated with trichome density, pod wall thickness and higher amount of phenolic compounds and condensed tannins. Lower trichome density and thin pod walls and higher amounts of sugars rendered the varieties Paras, Manak and Pussa-992 more susceptible to H. armigera. Nylon bag assay can be used to screen and select pigeonpea cultivars for resistance to H. armigera.

scholarly journals Grape variety affects larval performance and also female reproductive performance of the European grapevine moth Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Moreau ◽  
B. Benrey ◽  
D. Thiéry
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Lobesia Botrana ◽  
Larval Performance ◽  
European Grapevine Moth ◽  
Wild Grape ◽  
Larval Host ◽  
Fitness Index ◽  
Grapevine Moth

AbstractFor insect herbivores, the quality of the larval host plant is a key determinant of fitness. Therefore, insect populations are supposed to be positively correlated with the nutritional quality of their host plant. This study aimed to determine if and how different varieties of grapes (including the wild grape Lambrusque) affect both larval and adult performance of the polyphagous European grapevine moth Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller). Significant differences were found in larval development time, but not in pupal mass, adult emergence rate, or sex ratio. Although the fecundity of females is not different among varieties, females fed on some varieties produced eggs of different sizes which are correlated to their fertility. Thus, females adapt resource allocation to eggs depending on their diet as larvae. Using a fitness index, the average reproductive output was found to be highest for females reared on cv. Chardonnay. Females reared on wild grape produced a fitness index identical to the cultivated grapes. However, Lambrusque and Gewurztraminer separate themselves from the cultivated varieties according to our discriminant analyses. It is emphasized, through this study, that cultivars fed on by larvae should be considered in the population dynamics of L. botrana and that egg number is insufficient to determine host plant quality.

scholarly journals The Potential Distribution of the Potato Tuber Moth (Phthorimaea Operculella) Based on Climate and Host Availability of Potato

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Min Jung ◽  
Sang-Geui Lee ◽  
Kwang-Ho Kim ◽  
Sung-Wook Jeon ◽  
Sunghoon Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Potato Tuber ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Potential Distribution ◽  
Potato Production ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Potato Seed ◽  
Potato Tuber Moth ◽  
Climatic Suitability ◽  
Plant Availability

This study evaluated the potential distribution of the potato tuber moth. This species severely impacts global potato production, especially in China and India, which have the world’s largest potato production. We developed two indices considering host plant availability and production in addition to climatic suitability, which was simulated using the CLIMEX model. Thus, three different indices were used to project potential distribution of the potato tuber moth under a climate change scenario: (1) climatic suitability (ecoclimatic index (EI)) (EIM), (2) climatic suitability combined with host plant availability (EIN1), and (3) climatic suitability combined with host plant production (EIN2). Under the current climate, EIM was high in southern India and central to southern China, while EIN1 and EIN2 were approximately 38% and 20% lower than EIM, respectively. Under the Special Report on Emissions Scenario A1B, the potato tuber moth would probably not occur in India, but its distribution could be extended to the north, reaching N47°. The areas with the highest climatic suitability by potato tuber moth based on three indices were Sichuan and Karnataka in response to climate change. These areas require adequate pest control, such as prevention of spread through transport of potato seed or by using cold storage facilities.

PERFORMANCE OF TRIRHABDA VIRGATA (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) ON THREE POTENTIAL HOSTS

1999 ◽  
Vol 131 (6) ◽  
pp. 801-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.E. Blatt ◽  
A.M. Schindel ◽  
R. Harmsen
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Larval Survival ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Fitness Components ◽  
First Instar ◽  
Plant Fecundity ◽  
Adult Fitness ◽  
Neonate Larvae ◽  
Trirhabda Virgata

AbstractThe suitability of three potential host plants, Solidago canadensis L. var. canadensis (Asteraceae), Solidago graminifolia (L.) Salisb., and Aster lateriflorus L. (Asteraceae), for the goldenrod beetle, Trirhabda virgata LeConte was determined by measuring several fitness components during the T. virgata life cycle. Neonate larvae were collected from S. canadensis plants and transplanted onto S. canadensis, S. graminifolia, and A. lateriflorus and maintained in field enclosures until the last instar was reached. Once brought into the laboratory, larvae were fed their assigned host plant until pupation. Following emergence, adults were weighed and separated into mating pairs to record oviposition and longevity. Eggs were kept in the laboratory until the following spring, when first instar larvae were taken into the field and re-established on their assigned host, and the experiment was repeated for 2 years. Larval survival and rate of development was not affected by the host plant. Mean weight of adults at emergence was greater on S. canadensis than on either S. graminifolia or A. lateriflorus. Two components of adult fitness, postmating longevity and realized fecundity, were measured. Longevity of adult female T. virgata was not affected by the host plant. Fecundity of T. virgata reared on A. lateriflorus and S. graminifolia was lower than the fecundity of females reared on S. canadensis. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that both intrinsic plant quality and the mobility of the foraging stage are important in the evolution of host range in T. virgata. These experiments were repeated over a 3-year period, using offspring from the survivors of the previous year for the 2nd and 3rd years. Over this time, individuals experienced "laboratory adaptation," and both accepted and increased their performance on previously unacceptable food plants.

A simple rearing technique for larvae and observations on the larval biology of Australian ‘splendid ghost moths’, Aenetus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1855) (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 43-51
Author(s):  
ETHAN PEREGRINE BEAVER ◽  
JOHN GREHAN
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Larval Feeding ◽  
Larval Biology ◽  
New Host ◽  
Distribution Ranges ◽  
Associate Species

It is difficult to associate species of the wood-boring moth in the genus Aenetus with their host plant, because larvae develop inside live trees. A new method is described for rearing larvae of Aenetus eximia, A. lewinii, A. blackburnii, A. ligniveren and A. scotti in cut stems of trees containing larval tunnels by feeding them apple pieces. Larvae that completed development were reared from 49 to 396 days after collection from the field. Aspects of larval feeding webs and adult emergence are described, and new host records are documented. The rearing method is shown to provide an effective means of accurately determining the species of Aenetus developing inside a given host plant.  It was more convenient than obtaining pupae or emerging adults in the field, which is often not possible to do. The method should be useful for conducting surveys, particularly for species with wide distribution ranges. This method may also be effective for the study of other genera of callus feeding, stem boring Hepialidae, such as Archaeoaenetus, Endoclita, Phassus, Schausiana and Zeloptypia.

scholarly journals Differences in oviposition behaviour of two sympatric sibling species of the genus Ostrinia

2008 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Malausa ◽  
B. Pélissié ◽  
V. Piveteau ◽  
C. Pélissier ◽  
D. Bourguet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Assortative Mating ◽  
European Corn Borer ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Host Shift ◽  
Oviposition Behaviour ◽  
Host Preferences ◽  
Corn Borer

AbstractChanges in host preferences are thought to be a major source of genetic divergence between phytophagous insect taxa. In western Europe, two sympatric taxa, O. nubilalis (the European corn borer) and O. scapulalis, feed mainly on maize and hop or mugwort, respectively. These two species may have diverged without geographic isolation after a host shift of ancestral populations onto maize or another cultivated species (e.g. sorghum). A previous study using inbred laboratory strains revealed that the two species differ in their oviposition choices in maize-mugwort tests. We sampled four natural populations in France (two of each taxon) and tested their oviposition behaviour toward four of their main host plant species: maize, sorghum, mugwort and hop. O. nubilalis females showed a very high preference for laying their eggmasses on maize, whereas O. scapulalis females displayed a more balanced range of preferences. O. nubilalis females were attracted slightly to sorghum, suggesting that this plant is an accidental, rather than a regular and ancestral host plant of O. nubilalis. One important result arising from this study is the significant proportion of eggs laid by both Ostrinia species on hop. This may explain why some stands of hop are sometimes not only infested by O. scapulalis but also by O. nubilalis larvae, a situation preventing assortative mating based on microallopatry. Hence, further studies must be conducted to see whether the host preference in the genus Ostrinia might be linked to assortative mating by a mechanism that is not mediated by the host plant.

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