OVIPOSITION AND LONGEVITY OF THE DARK-SIDED CUTWORM, EUXOA MESSORIA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE), IN THE LABORATORY

Abstract

In the laboratory, the mean number of eggs laid per female of the dark-sided cutworm, Euxoa messoria (Harris), fed on honey solution was 1303.8; when given water alone 261.3; and 86.4 when held without food or water. Adult food significantly increased the longevity and oviposition period and reduced the pre-oviposition period. There was no significant difference between the weight of male and female pupae. The weight of the female pupae was significantly correlated with: the oviposition period; the number of eggs laid; the longevity, except moths fed on honey solution; but not the pre-oviposition period, regardless of food taken as adults. Females fed on honey solution mated successfully, 30% of them more than once. When given water or nothing the number of mated females was reduced. Dissections showed that adult food accelerated the development of eggs and increased the fecundity potential.

SUCROSE INGESTION BY ZEIRAPHERA CANADENSIS MUT. & FREE. (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) INCREASES LONGEVITY AND LIFETIME FECUNDITY BUT NOT OVIPOSITION RATE

“…Lifetime fecundity was greatest for sucrose-fed females, as has been reported for other Lepidoptera (e.g. Stem and Smith 1960;Johansson 1963;Lukefahr and Martin 1964;Cheng 1972;Jensen et al 1974;Murphy et al 1983;Leather 1984), but average lifetime oviposition rate was lower for females consuming sucrose. In addition, sucrose had no effect on oviposition rate of either viable or nonviable eggs for the first 10 days post-emergence.…”

“…Although the importance of amino acids to reproduction for nectarfeeding Lepidoptera has been the centre of recent debate (Murphy et al 1983;Moore and Singer 1987), it is generally accepted that carbohydrate ingestion is essential to achieve full reproductive potential (e.g. Lukefahr and Martin 1964;Cheng 1972;Jensen et al 1974;Murphy et al 1983;Leather 1984).…”

“…Most laboratory studies evaluating the influence of carbohydrate ingestion in Lepidoptera report enhanced fitness traits for females provided carbohydrates compared with females provided only water (e.g. Stem and Smith 1960;Johansson 1963;Lukefahr and Martin 1964;Cheng 1972;Jensen et al 1974;Murphy et al 1983;Leather 1984; but see Gunn andGatehouse 1985 andGu andDanthanarayana 1990). The majority of these studies considered only lifetime fecundity, not oviposition rate.…”

Comparison of the reproductive potential of Monochamus galloprovincialis on two pine species under laboratory conditions

“…Leather (1995) suggested that larval nutrition may affect the size and fecundity of adult insects. Adult nutrition can also affect the reproduction and longevity of insects (Cheng 1972;Stern and Smith 1960). Leather (1984) found a significant relationship between longevity and availability of adult food in the moth Panolis flammea Denis and Schiffermüller.…”

BIOSYSTEMATICS OF THE GENUSEUXOA(LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE): X. INCIDENCE AND LEVEL OF MULTIPLE MATING IN NATURAL AND LABORATORY POPULATIONS

“…In a study of the biology ofE. messoria, Cheng (1972) found that in the laboratory only 30% of single pairs mated more than once. A low incidence of multiple mating by single pairs of messoria has also occurred in this laboratory.…”