LABORATORY STUDIES ON DEVELOPMENT OF GYPSY MOTH, LYMANTRIA DISPAR (L.) (LEPIDOPTERA: LYMANTRIIDAE), LARVAE ON FOLIAGE OF GYMNOSPERMS

1989 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 425-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey C. Miller ◽  
Paul E. Hanson

AbstractThe development of gypsy moth larvae was monitored in the laboratory on the foliage of 39 species belonging to 18 genera in the Araucaraceae, Cupressaceae, Ginkgoaceae, Pinaceae, Taxaceae, and Taxodiaceae. Larval survival through successive molts, time of larval development, live female pupal weights, and adult female production of ova were measured as indicators of host plant suitability for the gypsy moth. The criteria for distinguishing the most suitable hosts were as follows: (1) greater than 80% survival of first-instar larvae, (2) development to pupation in less than 41 days, (3) female pupal weights over 1099 mg, and (4) the production of more than 350 ova. The most suitable species were in the Pinaceae, in particular, Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex Lamb.) G. Don, Larix decidua Mill., and Picea pungens Engelm. The least suitable species were in the Cupressaceae, Ginkgoaceae, and Taxaceae. First-, second-, and third-instar larvae often differed in their ability to survive on new foliage compared with foliage from the previous year. Overall, first-instar larvae successfully developed into adults on 20 of the species tested but second-instar larvae developed into adults on 29 of the species tested. First- through fourth- or fifth-instar larvae failed to develop into adults on eight of the species tested.

2007 ◽  
pp. 55-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Slobodan Milanovic

The development of Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L) was monitored in laboratory conditions, on the foliage of the species Quercus cerris L. Quercus petraea (Matt) Liebl. and Quercus robur L. The experiment was established in the controlled environmental conditions, at the temperature of 25?C, photoperiod 14:10 (day: night) and relative humidity 70%. The objective of the research was to determine the suitability of the study host plant species for gypsy moth development. The study results show that Gypsy moth caterpillars cultivated on Q. petraea foliage had a lower survival, higher number of moultings, longer preadult development and lower fecundity, which makes this species less suitable compared to the other two. Gypsy moth caterpillars cultivated on Q. cerris foliage had the highest survival degree the lowest number of moultings, the shortest preadult development and the highest fecundity, which makes this species the most favourable for gypsy moth development. Q. robur was between the former two species in this respect.


1999 ◽  
Vol 131 (6) ◽  
pp. 801-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.E. Blatt ◽  
A.M. Schindel ◽  
R. Harmsen

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.


1993 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koichi Suzuki ◽  
Takehiko Nakamura ◽  
Toshio Yanbe ◽  
Morihisa Kurihara ◽  
Eiichi Kuwano

1992 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juli R. Gould ◽  
Joseph S. Elkinton ◽  
Thomas M. ODell

AbstractIn the field, superparasitism of Lymantria dispar (L.) by Parasetigena silvestris (Robineau-Desvoidy) was not the result of random oviposition, but, because parasitoid eggs were aggregated, certain hosts were more likely to be parasitized than average. Parasitoid eggs were more aggregated when gypsy moth larvae were collected from under burlap bands than when larvae were collected elsewhere in the same 9-ha plot, resulting in lowered mortality due to parasitism. This finding suggests that collecting larvae from burlap bands may not provide accurate estimates of the impact of P. silvestris on populations of L. dispar. In laboratory studies, deposition of more than one egg on a single host significantly increased parasitoid emergence and host mortality. However, increasing superparasitism had a negative effect on both the probability that an individual parasitoid would survive to emerge from a host and the size of the puparium produced by the parasitoid. The probability of parasitoid survival was higher when fifth- rather than fourth-instar gypsy moth larvae were attacked, but puparia produced by parasitoids emerging from fifth-instar larvae were smaller.


1982 ◽  
Vol 114 (7) ◽  
pp. 617-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald M. Weseloh

AbstractTethered gypsy moth larvae, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), placed in various tree microhabitats were most heavily parasitized by Compsilura concinnata (Meigen) (Diptera: Tachinidae) near the ground especially on leaves. In laboratory experiments, hosts were parasitized primarily between 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM (E.S.T.), with little parasitism at night. These data suggest that in the field, this tachinid will most efficiently attack young gypsy moth caterpillars, as instars 1 to 3 are the only ones consistently on or near foliage during daylight. C. concinnata females successfully parasitized young hosts, but larval development on 2nd instars was twice as long as that on 4th instars. Thus, only one generation of parasitoids on gypsy moths is likely per year. Results indicate that methods for improving the effectiveness of this parasitoid should emphasize increasing adult numbers early in the season.


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