Changes in a moth community mediated by biological control of the dominant species.
Schreiner I. H., Nafus D. M.
Author Affiliation: Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Guam, Mangilao, 96923, Guam.
Environmental Entomology 21 : 664-668
Abstract : After biological control of Penicillaria jocosatrix on Guam using the parasitoids Euplectrus sp. and Blepharella lateralis, populations of 4 other species of Lepidoptera using mango increased. These included the geometrids Anisodes illepidaria, Thalassodes sp. and Chloroclystis sp. and the noctuid Nanaguana breviuscula. Thalassodes sp., Chloroclystis sp. and N. breviuscula were most commonly found on mango inflorescences, and probably became more abundant as a result of an increase in mango flowers. Larvae of A. illepidaria on leaves and flowers increased 10-fold after suppression of P. jocosatrix. Comparison of larval biology with that of P. jocosatrix showed that A. illepidaria preferred slightly older, developing leaves. Survival of A. illepidaria was low on very young leaves, which were highly suitable for P. jocosatrix. Introduced biological control agents acted as keystone predators, preventing P. jocosatrix from preempting mango as a resource for other Lepidoptera.