Complementary Behaviors of Maternal and Offspring <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera littoralis</Emphasis>: Oviposition Site Selection and Larval Movement Together Maximize Performance |
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Authors: | Medhat M Sadek |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, 71516, Egypt |
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Abstract: | The selection of oviposition and feeding sites within cotton plants by Spodoptera littoralis was investigated in the field in 2 years, 2007 and 2008. The female moths exhibited significant oviposition preference for
young leaves (YL), particularly the 3rd and 4th leaves from top. The larvae originating from egg batches deposited on YL fed
mostly in situ for about 5 days, after which they gradually moved their feeding site toward fully expanded or mature leaves
on the same individual plant or on neighboring plants. Larvae hatching from batches deposited on fully expanded leaves (FE)
fed in situ only for about 2 days, after which they moved toward younger leaves, where they fed for about 3 more days. After
the fifth day, however, larvae of the two groups dispersed mainly downward and outward from their hatching site until the
end of a 12-day observation. Larvae hatching from eggs deposited on mature or pre-senescent leaves (MP) moved mainly horizontally
to other plants after a slight upward shift. The YL and FE larvae grew significantly faster than MP larvae, both in the field
and in a laboratory experiment. In the laboratory experiment, the larval period was shorter and the pupal weight was higher
when the animals were offered young leaves or young and fully expanded leaves, than when the animals were offered mature and
pre-senescent leaves during the first 5 days after hatching. Possible causes and advantages of the exhibited oviposition preference,
as well as the apparent ability of larvae to correct for small egg misplacements made by the females, are discussed. |
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