Increase in respiratory rate during feeding in larvae of the cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae

ABSTRACT. This study tested the effect of diet and phase of the feeding cycle on oxygen consumption by fifth-instar larvae of the cinnabar moth Tyria jacobaeae (L.) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). There was no significant variation in respiratory rates among larvae fed different diets, which were floral parts, upper, middle and lower leaves of the host plant tansy ragwort, Senecio jacobaea. The respiratory rates ( x ± 95% Cl μlO₂h^-1) of feeding larvae (279.5 ± 30.9) were higher than those of larvae at rest (179.7 ± 12.2), but were not significantly different from those of larvae in the post-ingestive phase (272.8 ± 35.8).
The respiratory rates of feeding larvae increased linearly with the ingestion rate, such that an additional 21.1 μl O₂ were consumed for every mg dry mass of plant material eaten per hour.     

Termination of diapause in the Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) by chilling

The effect of chilling time on the termination of pupal diapause was studied in the Cinnabar moth, Tyria jacobaeae L., Lepidoptera: Arctiidae. Chilling followed by a temperature of 20°C was effective in terminating diapause. Chilling for 120 days immediately after pupation yielded the highest percentage emergence and resulted in the shortest total pupal development time (162 days). A more natural treatment, a warm period before cold treatment, did not result in a higher percentage of emergence or in a shorter total pupal development time.During hibernation this species experiences two successive processes: diapause development during the first three to four months of cold, followed by a period of quiescence. Application of high temperatures in this latter period immediately starts morphogenesis. The impact of a relative humidity of 70% during the pupal stage for complete wing unfolding is demonstrated. The underlying mechanism of diapause is discussed.

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Résumé L'effet sur la levée de la diapause de différents régimes de température infligés aux chrysalides est étudié chez Tyria jacobaeae L. (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). Une mise au froid suivie de hautes températures lève efficacement la diapause. Un refroidissement pendant 120 jours immédiatement après la nymphose entraîne le plus grand pourcentage d'éclosions et la durée totale du développement des chrysalides la plus courte (162.3 j). Un traitement plus naturel, une période chaude avant la période froide, n'entraîne pas un plus grand pourcentage d'éclosions ni une durée plus courte de développement.Il est proposé que durant l'hibernation cette espèce passe par deux processus successifs: un diapause durant les premiers trois ou quatre mois de froid, suivie d'une période de quiescence. Le transfert à des hautes températures pendant cette derpériode déclanche immédiatement la morphogénèse. L'influence d'un taux élevé d'humidité relative durant le stade chrysalide sur le déploiement complet des ailes est démontré. Le méchanisme de diapause sous-jacent est discuté.

     

The effects of host plant defoliation and fertilizer application on larval growth and oviposition behaviour in cinnabar moth

Summary Defoliated ragwort plants produced regrowth foliage that was higher in alkaloid, but lower in amino acid concentrations than primary foliage. Total N was not affected. 2) Plants fertilized with nitrogen (as ammonium sulphate) had lower amino acid concentrations than unfertilized control plants, slightly increased alkaloid levels but similar total N concentrations. 3) Ovipositing females laid eggs upon plants with equal probability for controls, regrowth and fertilized foliage (one rosette in 5 received an egg batch). However, the probability of receiving eggs was significantly lower on the primary leaves of cut-back plants that had had their lower leaves removed a few days before egg laying (only one rosette in 13 was selected). 4) Egg batch size was higher on fertilized control foliage than on other treatments. 5) Larvae attained greater final weights when fed a diet of regrowth foliage, despite the higher levels of alkaloid they contained. Larval development rate was not affected by experimental treatment of the foliage. 6) Larval growth was lowest on the leaves of fertilized plants. This was associated with significant reductions in the concentrations of three amino acids (methionine down 29%, tyrosine 33% and lysine 25%).     

Effect of dietary nitrogen on gypsy moth larval nutritional indices, development and lipid content

Nutritional indices, development rates, percent dry weights and total lipids were determined in gypsy moth larvae (Lymantria dispar L.) reared on a high wheat germ (HWG) diet or diets prepared from lyophilized, ball-milled oak or pine foliage as the only source of dietary nitrogen (N). With regard to both total and proteinaceous N content, HWG diet>oak diet>pine diet. All nutritional indices measured were significantly lower in second instars fed pine diet vs. oak diet. Protein supplementation of pine diet with either casein or ovalbumin to bring total N up to the level present in oak diet resulted in small increased in approximate digestibility (AD) and effciency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), but relative growth rate (RGR) remained unaffected. The low RGR of larvae fed pine diet (unsupplemented or protein supplemented), as compared to those fed HWG or oak diet, was accompanied by significantly lower larval percent dry weight and percent total lipid. In contrast, RGR, larval percent dry weight and total lipid values were comparable in second instars fed HWG or oak diet. Insects reared from the first through the final instar on oak diet exhibited lower pupal weights compared to those reared on HWG. Casein addition to oak diet generally resulted in even more extended larval development times and further reduced pupal weights, but wheat germ addition to oak diet did not alter development rates and caused an increase in pupal weights.     

Influence of host plant, foliar phenology and larval dietary history on Lymantria dispar larval nutritional indices

Quantitative nutritional indices were measured in 3rd instar gypsy moths, Lymantria dispar L. Analyses of the main and interactive effects of host plant consumed (oak or pine), foliar phenology (early or late season) and larval dietary history (whether fed artificial diet or foliage as second instars) indicate that larval performance was significantly affected by all three variables tested. Relative Growth Rate (RGR) was higher on oak than pine early in the season, but the reverse occurred one month later, owing largely to the slower Relative Consumption Rate (RCR) of late season oak feeders. Efficiency of Conversion of Digested food (ECD) was depressed in larvae fed pine foliage for two instars compared with those fed oak. The interaction between larval dietary history and foliar phenology produced significant effects on all indices measured. Foliar analyses showed that, as the season progressed, oak had a higher percent dry weight than did pine. On a dry weight basis, pine foliage had significantly less total and protein nitrogen than did oak collected at the same time.

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Résumé Les indices nutritionnels larvaires ont été évalués sur des chenilles de L. dispar L. du troisième stade. L'analyse des effets et des interactions de la nature de la plante consommée (Quercus microcarpa) ou Pinus strobus, de la phénologie foliaire (en début de saison, c'est-à-dire seconde quinzaine de mai, ou en fin de saison, c'est-à-dire à la mi-juin), de l'alimentation antérieure (régime artificiel de germes de blé ou feuillage pendant le second stade) montre que les performances larvaires sont fortement modifiées par ces 3 variables. Le taux de croissance relative (RGR) est plus élevé sur chêne que sur pin en début de saison, mais s'inverse un mois plus tard avec une forte diminution sur chêne. L'efficacité de conversion de l'aliment (ECD) est diminuée sur pin pendant les second et troisième stades. L'interaction entre l'alimentation antérieure et le phénologie foliaire a des effets significatifs sur la digestibilité approchée (AD), sur l'efficacité de la conversion de l'aliment ingéré (ECI), et sur ECD, RCR et RGR.Les analyses foliaires ont montré que, lorsque la saison avance, le poids sec du chêne devient supérieur à celui du pin. En considérant le poids sec, le feuillage de pin contient moins d'aliments et de protéines que le chêne récolté au même moment. La teneur en azote tend à diminuer chez les deux espèces, de 17% pour le pin et 26% pour le chêne.Nous pensons que certains de ces facteurs déterminent la valeur de ces plantes pour L. dispar. Les chenilles âgées peuvent compenser plus ou moins la faible assimilation sur pin par des RCR plus élevés. Le même comportement ne semble pas possible sur chêne, une plus grande quantité de chêne avancé en saison que de feuilles jeunes ne pouvant être consommée pour compenser la diminution de la digestibilité.

     

Diapause induction in the codling moth, Cydia pomonella: effect of larval diet

The effect of larval diet on diapause induction in the Israeli strain of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), was studied in a field trial using intact apple fruits of two varieties: Ana (early-ripening, in the end of June) and Granny Smith (late-ripening, in October). Diapause incidence increased as fruit age (determined as days from fruit-set) progressed. These results corroborate former studies on other strains of the codling moth, where excised fruits were used.The combination of 80-day-old, fully ripe, Ana fruit treatment with the longest days of the year, yielded 38% diapause. This result demonstrates that mature fruit (inducing diapause) cannot completely override the effect of long day (averting diapause), but does confirm that larval diet modifies the photoperiodic induction of diapause in the codling moth.Deceased, October 1988     

The effect of varying alkaloid concentrations on the feeding behavior of gypsy moth larvae, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Nine alkaloids (acridine, aristolochic acid, atropine, berberine, caffeine, nicotine, scopolamine, sparteine, and strychnine) were evaluated as feeding deterrents for gypsy moth larvae (Lymantria dispar (L.); Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). Our aim was to determine and compare the taste threshold concentrations, as well as the ED₅₀ values, of the nine alkaloids to determine their potency as feeding deterrents. The alkaloids were applied to disks cut from red oak leaves (Quercus rubra) (L.), a plant species highly favored by larvae of this polyphagous insect species. We used two-choice feeding bioassays to test a broad range of biologically relevant alkaloid concentrations spanning five logarithmic steps. We observed increasing feeding deterrent responses for all the alkaloids tested and found that the alkaloids tested exhibited different deterrency threshold concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 mM. In conclusion, it appears that this generalist insect species bears a relatively high sensitivity to these alkaloids, which confirms behavioral observations that it avoids foliage containing alkaloids. Berberine and aristolochic acid were found to have the lowest ED₅₀ values and were the most potent antifeedants. Handling Editor: Joseph Dickens.     

Tritrophic interactions between aphids (Aphis jacobaeae Schrank), ant species,Tyria jacobaeae L., and Senecio jacobaea L. lead to maintenance of genetic variation in pyrrolizidine alkaloid concentration

Summary We hypothesize that the tritrophic interaction between ants, the aphid Aphis jacobaeae, the moth Tyria jacobaeae, and the plant Senecio jacobaea can explain the genetic variation observed in pyrrolizidine alkaloid concentration in natural populations of S. jacobaea. The ant Lasius niger effectively defends S. jacobaea plants infested with A. jacobaeae against larvae of T. jacobaeae. S. jacobaea plants with A. jacobaeae which are defended by ants escape regular defoliation by T. jacobaeae. Plants with aphids and ants have a lower pyrrolizidine alkaloid concentration than plants without aphids and ants. When these data are fitted to an existing theoretical model for temporal variation in fitness it is shown that varying herbivore pressure by T. jacobaeae in interaction with ants defending aphid-infested plants with a low pyrrolizidine alkaloid concentration can lead to a stable polymorphism in pyrrolizidine alkaloid concentration. Costs of the production and maintenance of pyrrolizidine alkaloids are not accounted for in the model.Publication of the Meijendel-comité, new series no. 114     

The influence of citrus fruit condition on egg laying by the false codling moth, Cryptophlebia leucotreta

The oviposition response of Cryptophlebia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) to healthy navel and Valencia orange, Citrus sinensis (L.), fruit was measured in experimental orchards at Nelspruit, eastern Transvaal, South Africa, and was compared with the response to prematurely ripened fruit and injured fruit. Both premature ripening and injury increased the number of eggs laid on these fruit. Damaged fruit was almost twice as attractive as ripe fruit if the number of eggs laid can be used as a measure of attraction. Large wounds were no more stimulating than small lesions. The quantity of stimulus was not statistically significant, yet five or ten treated fruit in a cluster led to more egg-laying per fruit than a single treated fruit. More eggs were observed on healthy fruit within 50 cm of clusters of treated fruit than on healthy fruit on different trees, but this effect was not statistically significant.

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Résumé La ponte de c. leucotreta Meyrick (Lep.; Tortricidae) sur oranges (Navel et Valencia) saines a été évaluée dans des vergers expérimentaux de Nelspruit à l'est du Transvaal, en Afrique du Sud. Elle a été comparée à la ponte observée sur des fruits prématurés ou endommagés. Ces deux dernières situations ont augmenté l'effectif d'ufs pondus sur les fruits; si le nombre d'ufs pondus est utilisé comme critère d'attraction, les fruits endommagés étaient presque deux fois plus attractifs que les autres. La taille des blessures est sans effet. Des fruits ont été artificiellement endommagés ou conduits prématurément à maturité avec un badigeon d'acide 2-chloréthylphos-phorique. Ces stimului n'ont pas eu d'effet cumulatif significatif; pourtant la ponte était plus importante sur des paquets de 5 ou 10 fruits artificiellement modifiés, que sur des fruits modifiés isolés. Une ponte plus importante a été observée sur des fruits sains à moins de 50 cm d'un groupe de fruits modifiés. Il est probable que des signaux visuels et olfactifs orientent la découverte du fruit par la tordeuse. Ces résultats suggèrent que les substances volatiles ont plus d'influence que la couleur ou la taille du fruit.La protection contre cet insecte devrait comprendre l'élimination des fruits mûris prématurément ou abîmés, mais il faudrait préciser si les fruits endommagés sont ou non découverts par hasard. La concentration des pontes sur et autour de ces fruits peut aussi réduire les pontes dans le reste du verger.

     

Nutritional performance of first and penultimate-final Instar bagworm larvae on two unrelated hosts as influenced by host of origin

Nutritional performance of early and late instar bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis Haworth) larvae was investigated as a function of host of origin and host type, using two taxonomically distant wild hosts, Salix nigra (Marshall) and Juniperus virginiana (L.). First instar growth and survival were higher on S. nigra; overall performance was similar on the two hosts in penultimate-final instars. There was no evidence for host associated differentiation with respect to nutritional performance. There were, however, significant genotype x environment interactions for several characters studied, suggesting that the potential for host associated differentiation exists.     

Rover/sitterDrosophila melanogaster larval foraging polymorphism as a function of larval development,food-patch quality,and starvation

The genetically based rover/sitter behavioral difference in Drosophila melanogasterlarval foraging is expressed throughout most of the larval instars when larvae forage on food patches of differing food quality. The amount of locomotor behavior decreases when third-instar larvae of both rover and sitter strains are starved just prior to the behavioral test. Such strain differences in locomotor behavior are maintained despite the starvation-induced decrease in locomotion found in both strains. Measurements of larval body length and width, taken at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h posthatching, reveal that rover and sitter larval growth rates do not differ. The finding that rover/sitter differences are expressed in a variety of environments and throughout the majority of the larval instars should aid in attempts to uncover selection pressures which may differentially affect the two morphs in environmentally heterogeneous natural populations.     

Effect of daylength and temperature on the larval diapause of the sunflower moth, Homoeosoma electellum

The effect of daylength and temperature on the regulation of the larval diapause of a central Missouri population of the sunflower moth, Homoeosoma electellum, was examined. Fully grown fourth-instar larvae exhibit a facultative diapause. Measurements of the effect of photoperiod on diapause induction revealed critical photoperiods of about 13 h 30 min light/day at 20°C, and between 11 h 45 min and 12 h light/day at 23°C. Third and fourth-instar larvae were shown to be the main sensitive stages for diapause determination. Daylength was also shown to be an important regulator of the rate of diapause development. A short day of LD 10:14 h permitted only a low rate of diapause development, whereas long days of LD 14:10 h and LD 16:8 h accelerated diapause development at 25 and 30°C. When long days were alternated with short days at 30°C the accelerating effect of long days on diapause development was not found. Systematic transfers of chilled diapausing larvae revealed an accelerated diapause development in groups transferred from 10 to 30°C LD 10:14 h, but diapause development was not accelerated in groups transferred from 10 to 30°C LD 16:8 h.     

Variation in temperature and dietary nitrogen affect performance of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.)

Abstract. . The independent and interactive effects of temperature and dietary nitrogen content on performance of the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) were examined. In long-term feeding trials, larvae were reared from egg hatch to pupation on low (1.5%) and high (3.7% dry weight) nitrogen diets, under three temperature regimes. Short-term feeding trials with fourth instars and the same treatments were conducted in order to calculate nutritional indices.
Higher temperatures did not influence larval survival and marginally increased final pupal weights, but strongly decreased long-term development rates. They also accelerated short-term growth and consumption rates, and tended to improve food processing efficiencies. High concentrations of dietary nitrogen increased survival rates and final pupal weights markedly, but decreased long-term development rates only marginally. A high content of dietary nitrogen also accelerated short-term development and growth rates, reduced consumption rates, and improved food digestibility. Insects responded to low nitrogen-content diets primarily by eating faster, rather than by altering efficiency of nitrogen use. In the short-term feeding trials, thermal regime and dietary nitrogen interacted to influence growth rates, overall food processing efficiencies and nitrogen consumption rates. No interactive effects were observed in long-term studies.
This research demonstrates that small changes in thermal regime and ecologically relevant variation in dietary nitrogen content can strongly affect gypsy moth performance. Moreover, various performance parameters are differentially sensitive to the direct and interactive effects of temperature and diet.     

Influence of host plants on development, fecundity and egg hatchability of the arctiid moth Diacrisia casignetum

Measurements were made of the differences between sunflower and climbing hempweed leaves for development, fecundity and egg hatchability of Diacrisia casignetum Kollar. Developmental time and weight gains of sunflower-fed larvae were respectively longer and greater than those of hempweed-fed ones. The development time and weight gain, attributable to differences in host plants, were statistically heterogeneous (P<0.05-<0.10). Relative fecundity and egg hatchability of sunflower reared insects were greater than those of hempweed reared ones, and these were also statistically heterogeneous (P<0.1 and <0.05, respectively). Hempweed leaves contained relatively high titres of phenols and low ratios of proteins to phenols. Ovaries were heavier in insects reared on sunflower than on hempweed, whereas the level of phenols incorporated into the ovary was higher in insects fed on hempweed than those on sunflower. The differences in these parameters may be due to variations in nutritional quality of these hosts and incorporation of ingested phenolic materials to ovary and insect biomass.

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Résumé L'étude a porté sur l'évaluation de l'influence des feuilles de tournesol (Helianthus annuus) et de Mikana cordata sur le développement, la fécondité et l'éclosion des oeufs de D. casignetum Kollaz. La durée de développement et le gain de poids sur tournesol étaient plus importants que sur M. cordata. La durée de développement était statistiquement hétérogène (P<0.05), ce qui peut être dû à des différences entre plantes. La fécondité et le taux d'éclosion chez les insectes élevés sur tournesol étaient plus élevés que ceux observés sur M. cordata, dont les résultats étaient aussi hétérogènes (P<0.1 et<0.05 respectivement). Les feuilles de M. cordata contenaient des taux relativement élevés de phénols et des rapports protéines sur phénols bas. Tout ceci suggère que les différences observées sont attribuables à des variations dans la qualité nutritive de ces hôtes et dans l'incorporation à la biomasse de l'insecte de matériaux phénologiques ingérés.

     

The courtship behavior of the cabbage moth,Mamestra brassicae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and the role of male hair-pencils

The courtship behavior of the cabbage moth, Mamestra brassicae(L.), was studied in moving air conditions in a wind tunnel, using video techniques. Quantitative analyses were undertaken to determine the behavioral sequence occurring in the courtship. Comparison of successful and unsuccessful courtship suggested that courtship success was more dependent on the behavior of the female than that of the male. In an attempt to elucidate the function of the male hair-pencils (HPs), courtships involving males without HPs were also studied. HP removal did not affect the overall courtship success rate of males, but detailed analysis showed significant changes infernale behavior during such courtships. HP removal also affected female behavior following pair formation, with females struggling more when paired with males without HPs. Consequently, it is proposed that the HP volatiles act as an arrestant for the female, both during courtship and after pair formation, to increase female acceptance and to prevent premature termination of copulation. Experiments were also conducted to test previous hypotheses for HP function. However, no evidence was found to suggest that the HP volatiles in M. brassicaeact to attract females, affect female calling behavior, or affect the behavior of other males. A further possible function of HPs in defense is discussed.     

Age-related flight and reproductive performance of the light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana

The relationship between flight activity, reproduction and age of Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) was studied using tethered flight assays. Flights began on the day of emergence, peaking on days four and five in females and on day five in males, and lasted for nine to ten days. The development of flight capacity was well synchronised with the build-up and decline of reproductive behaviours (calling, mating and oviposition). Flights of E. postvittana are thus inter-reproductive, and there is no obvious pre-oviposition period. Males were more active than females as 45–50% of male moths in comparison to 15–18% of female moths were capable of prolonged flights during the peak activity period. The results suggest that flights of E. postvittana are appetitive flights to a large extent, but it is suggested that some individuals may migrate, as there is no diapause in this species. The sexual dimorphism of flight capacity is discussed in relation to those of other tortricids and Lepidoptera in general.

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Zusammenfassung Die Beziehungen zwischen Flugaktivität, Fortpflanzung und Alter von Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Tortricidae) wurden untersucht mit Hilfe von angebudenen Flugapparaten. Flüge begannen am Tage des Schlüpfens, mit einen Maximum am vierten und fünften Tag bei Weibchen und am fünten Tag bei Männchen, und dauerten neun bis zehn Tage. Die Entwicklung des Flugvermögens war gut mit der Zu- und Abnahme des Fortpflanzungsverhaltens (Rufen, Kopulieren und Eiablage) korreliert. Flüge von E. postivittana finden also während der Fortpflanzungsperiode statt, und es gibt keine deutliche Periode vor der Eiablage. Männchen waren aktiver als Weibchen: 45–50% der Männchen verglichen mit 15–18% der Weibchen waren zu langen Flügen während der maximalen Aktivitätsperiode fähig. Das Ergebnis deutet an, das Flüge von E. postvittana im grossen Masse Appetenzflüge sind, doch es wird auf die Möglichkeit hingewiesen, dass einige Individuen wandern können, da die Art keine Diapause hat. Der Geschlechtsdimorphismus in der Flugaktivität wird diskutiert und verglichen mit dem anderer Tortriciden und der Lepidoptera allgemein.

     

Factors affecting calculation of nutritional induces for foliage-fed insects: an experimental approach

To determine how nutritional indices for insects fed leaves are affected by the experimental conditions and the physiology of the plant material, we used larvae of the buckmoth, Hemileuca lucina Hy. Ed. (Saturniidae) and their hostplant Spiraea latifolia Ait. Bork (Rosaceae). Under experimental conditions identical to those used to determine larval nutritional indices, we found that the age of leaves (new versus mature) significantly affected their metabolism and water loss, but simulated herbivory did not directly affect leaf metabolism. Over a 6-day test, nitrogen concentration showed an initial increase followed by a gradual decline, and was higher in new leaves compared to mature leaves. New leaves increased in protein concentration and then gradually returned to the initial level, whereas mature leaves changed little over the 6-day test. These changes in percent nitrogen and protein may largely reflect the disproportional changes in non-nitrogenous materials. Solitary and grouped larvae had similar growth rates on new leaves, but they differed on mature leaves. Deliberate manipulation of larvae during the course of an experiment significantly reduced relative growth rates by increasing duration of the stadium rather than by decreasing biomass gained. Two methods of estimating larval gut contents at mid-stadium were compared: weight of frass produced and weight of digestive tract and contents. After the end of the 4-day test period used to determine nutritional indices, the digestive tracts with food accounted for 10.8% of the larval dry weight. Larval frass produced in 24 h after the end of the test period comprised 9.3% of the larval dry weight. Correction factors for plant metabolism changed nutritional indices by 1 to 8%, while those for larval gut contents altered indices by 2 to 15%.