Life cycle of Chlosyne lacinia saundersii (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) on Tithonia tubaeformis (Jacq.) Cass. under controlled laboratory conditions

Chlosyne lacinia saundersii (Doubleday) is a polyphagous lepidopteran that produces a great defoliation in its host plants. The objective of this work was to determine the development and survival time of C. lacinia saundersii and to report aspects of its natural history on “Cuban grass” Tithonia tubaeformis (Jacq.) Cass. (Asteraceae). Caterpillars from the field were kept in cages in a rearing chamber under controlled conditions and fed with leaves of T. tubaeformis until adults’ emergence. To the latter, a honey solution and T. tubaeformis flowers was given. The life cycle duration was 48 days (egg: 8.0 days; larva: 24.9; pupa: 6.9 days; adult: 8.3 days) with six larval stages. The survival of each stage of development was high (> 70%) but considering the period from egg to pupa, only 52% of the individuals reached adulthood. Larval gregariousness was observed. In relation to the sexes there is a predominance of females (1.1:1). Female pupae were heavier than males. This work represents the first contribution to the knowledge of the biology of C. lacinia saundersii under laboratory conditions on T. tubaeformis. Cuban grass is confirmed as a new alternative host plant for C. lacinia saundersii

Development of Eulophidae (Hymenoptera) parasitoids in Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) pupae exposed to entomopathogenic fungi

Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare and LaSalle, Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff), and Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian and Margabandhu (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) are promising candidates for the control of sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). The fungi Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Cordycipitaceae) and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metchnikoff) Sorokin (Clavicipitaceae) also can be used to control sugarcane borers plus leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) in sugarcane. This observation motivated us to investigate whether entomopathogenic fungi can affect biological aspects of these parasitoids. Diatraea saccharalis pupae (24 hours in age) were exposed to parasitism by three females of each eulophid species for 72 hours and then placed in small tubes. A contact surface treated with 1 mL of fungal suspension was placed inside each tube with the parasitised pupae at concentrations of 1×109, 5×109, or 10×109 conidia mL−1 of M. anisopliae and B. bassiana. Exposure to fungi reduced emergence of adult P. elaeisis, but not of T. howardi and T. diatraeae. Life cycle duration, progeny, and sex ratio of P. elaeisis were not affected by exposure. Exposure was associated with decreased longevity for both sexes of T. howardi and in males of P. elaeisis, but not at levels expected to affect their performance as biocontrol agents. In general, the exposure of eulophid species developing in pupae of D. saccharalis exposed to entomopathogenic fungi, did not compromise the biological aspects of these parasitoids.

Impact of light and dark exposure on life cycle duration (days) of Eri silk worm, Philosami aricini l (Saturniidae: Lepidoptera)

The impact of dark and light exposure on life cycle duration (days) were studied on Eri silk worm (Philosamiaricini) at Zoology Department Govt. P.G. Madhav Science College Ujjain. The diseases free laying (DFL’s) were collected from Govt. Sericulture Dept. Indore. Worms were reared under hygienic laboratory conditions. The optimum 25± 2°C temperature and 75±5% Relative humidity were maintained during complete in control, dark (24 hours) and complete light (24hours) condition. The duration of life cycle of the larvae reared in dark was significantly better than the larvae kept in light condition.

THE ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF SUSTAINALBITY CRITERIA ON THE EVALUATION OF BUILDING RENOVATION / PASTATŲ ATNAUJINIMO DARNAUS VERTINIMO KRITERIJŲ ĮTAKOS ANALIZĖ

The criterion for general sustainability is formed on the basis of a concept of sustainable development regarding the evaluation of energy efficiency measures for building refurbishment. The criterion for general sustainability consists of five criteria: energy efficiency, environmental impact, economical rationality, comfort and life cycle duration. Multi-criteria analysis has been performed normalizing the values of the criteria applying the SAW (Simple Additive Weighting) method. The analysis of the influence of separate criteria forming the criterion for general sustainability has been performed presenting five scenarios in each of which four criteria have formed general sustainability criteria. The results of the conducted analysis have showed that all five criteria set in the basic scenario are equally important when targeted at evaluating energy efficiency measures in a versatile and objective manner. Remiantis darnaus vystymosi koncepcija sudarytas bendrasis darnumo kriterijus pastatų atnaujinimo priemonėms vertinti. Bendrąjį darnumo kriterijų sudaro penki kriterijai: energinis efektyvumas, poveikis aplinkai, ekonominis racionalumas, komfortas ir gyvavimo ciklo trukmė. Daugiakriterė analizė atlikta kriterijų reikšmes normalizuojant SAW (angl. Simple Additive Weighting) metodu. Atskirų kriterijų, sudarančių bendrąjį darnumo kriterijų, įtakos analizė atlikta penkiais scenarijais, kurių kiekviename BDK sudarė tik keturi kriterijai. Atlikta analizė parodė, kad visi penki bazinio varianto kriterijai yra vienodai svarbūs norint priemones įvertinti visapusiškai ir objektyviai.