Survival and developmental of mango shoot caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in relation to leaf age, host, and distribution on the host in tropical Anacardiaceae.
Nafus D. M., Schreiner I. H., Dumaliang N.
Author Affiliation: Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Guam, 96923 Mangilao, Guam.
Environmental Entomology 20 : 1619-1626
Abstract : In mango trees on Guam, eggs of Penicillaria jocosatrix were laid predominantly on or near inflorescences or new leaves. Some eggs were laid on spider webs near young growth. At 26°C, the development rates were: eggs, 2-3 days; larvae, 9.5 days; pupae, 11 days. Development and survival rates were affected by host plant, plant part and leaf age. On mango, larvae survived better and developed faster on young leaves 3-10 days old or on flowers. Survival and growth were poor on leaves >10 days old. These leaves were reaching full size and were tougher. The unsuitability of older leaves was probably not related to protein levels, as survival and development rates on inflorescences, which had comparatively low levels of nitrogen, were higher. Larvae survived better and developed faster on young leaves of ambarella (Spondias dulcis) than on older, more mature leaves. Larvae were randomly distributed over the tree canopy on branches with young leaves with respect to height and compass direction in both wet and dry seasons. The behaviour of larvae varied with age. First- and 2nd-instar larvae remained on the young leaves at all times. Third- to 5th-instar larvae fed on young leaves at night and moved to the undersides of old leaves beneath the new shoot during the day. Adult females oviposited more frequently on leaves aged from budbreak to 4 days old. The majority of the buds on a tree opened about the same time. Late-breaking buds were fewer, and received proportionally higher number of eggs, causing more defoliation of these shoots.