Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T11:22:57.155Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF FOOD CONSUMPTION AND GROWTH IN PSEUDALETIA UNIPUNCTA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

M. K. Mukerji  and
J. C. Guppy
M. K. Mukerji
Affiliation:
Entomology Research Institute, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa
J. C. Guppy
Affiliation:
Entomology Research Institute, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Larvae of Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haw.), reared on corn foliage, were found to vary in the rate they were able to feed, grow, and attain maturity. Mortality varied inversely with the rate of food intake. In the fifth and sixth instars, there was a direct linear relationship between rate of food intake and daily growth, and rate of food intake and daily development. A variance of 78 to 96% in final weights of the two stages was explained by the combined effect of initial weights of larvae, food supply, duration of feeding, and food ingested. Fecundity increased with the rate of food intake of the larvae.When P. unipuncta feeds at a high rate, it is able to accelerate development, increase growth, and maintain a high reproductive potential. When the rate of food intake is low, development, growth, and fecundity are reduced for the sake of survival.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 102 , Issue 9 , September 1970 , pp. 1179 - 1188
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1970

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Breeland, S. G. 1958. Biological studies of the armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth), in Tennessee (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J. Tenn. Acad. Sci. 33: 263–347.Google Scholar
Englemann, M. D. 1966. Energetics, terrestrial field studies, and animal productivity. In: Advances in ecological research (Cragg, J. B., Ed.), Vol. 3, pp. 73–115. Academic Press, London and New York.Google Scholar
Evans, A. C. 1939. The utilization of food by the larvae of the bufftip, Phaleria bucephala (Linn.) (Lepidoptera). Proc. R. ent. Soc. Lond. (A) 14: 25–30.Google Scholar
Fewkes, D. W. 1960. The food requirements by weight of some British Nabidae (Heteroptera). Ent. exp. appl. 3: 231–237.Google Scholar
Guppy, J. C. 1969. Some effects of temperature on the immature stages of the armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Can. Ent. 101: 1320–1327.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mukerji, M. K., and LeRoux, E. J.. 1969. A quantitative study of food consumption and growth of Podisus maculiventris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Can. Ent. 101: 387–403.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nicholson, A. J. 1950. Population oscillations caused by competition for food. Nature, Lond. 165: 476–477.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Soo Hoo, C. F., and Fraenkel, G.. 1966. The consumption, digestion, and utilization of food plants by polyphagous insect, Prodenia eridania (Cramer). J. Insect Physiol. 12: 711–730.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Turnbull, A. L. 1962. Quantitative studies of the food of Linyphia triangularis Clerck (Araneae: Linyphiidae). Can. Ent. 94: 1233–1249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ullyett, G. C. 1950. Competition for food and allied phenomena in sheep below fly populations. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. (Lond.) (B) 234: 77–174.Google Scholar
Waldbauer, G. P. 1968. The consumption and utilization of food by insects. In: Advances in insect physiology (Beament, Treherne and Wigglesworth, , Eds.), Vol. 5, pp. 229–288. Academic Press, London and New York.Google Scholar
Wigglesworth, V. B. 1953. The principles of insect physiology. Methuen, London.Google Scholar