Preferences and survival of Lophoceramica pyrrha, a shelter builder gregarious noctuid, in two host plants

Authors

  • José Luis Castillo López Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
  • Zenón Cano Santana Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32870/dugesiana.v17i2.3973

Keywords:

leaf trichomes, habitat selection, oviposition preference, feeding preference , Wigandia urens, Buddleia cordata

Abstract

Gregarious larvae of Lophoceramica pyrrha (Druce) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) feed almost exclusively on leaves of Wigandia urens (Ruiz et Pavón)(Hydrophyllaceae) although occasionally it is possible to find some larvae on Buddleia cordata Kunth (Loganiaceae) and Dahlia coccinea Cav. (Asteraceae) at the ecological reserve Pedregal de San Ángel Mexico City.Previous experimental studies indicate that larvae of L. pyrrha grew better on leaves of B. cordata than on leaves of W. urens due to the higher content of nitrogen and water. However, it is not known why females of L. pyrrha prefer to oviposit on a host of lower quality like leaves of W. urens in natural conditions. In this study, we explore (1) the patterns of spatial distributionof egg hatches of L. pyrrha within a plant and leaves of W. urens, (2) the mortality of larvae of L. pyrrha artificially deposited on leaves of W. urens and B. cordata in the field, and (3) the preferences for oviposition and feeding of larvae of L. pyrrha on leaves of W. urens and B. cordata under controlled conditions. Egg hatches of L. pyrrha were mainly distributed on the distal area of intermediate and mature leaves of plants of W. urens with > 0.6 m height located in unshaded patches. Survivorship rates of larvae in the field were higher on leaves of W. urens than on leaves of B. cordata due to the higher probability to construct a better shelter on W. urens leaves. Females of L. pyrrha prefer to oviposit and to feed on leaves of W. urens than on leaves of B. cordata. All these results indicate that larvae of L. pyrrha select leaves of W. urens where they can construct a resistant shelter that can support a high number of larvae, which could obtain the potential advantages of the gregarious behavior.

References

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Published

2015-09-23

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 2 (2010): Diciembre 2010

Section

Artículos

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  3. Authors are encouraged and encouraged to disseminate their work through the Internet (eg in institutional telematic files or on their web page) before and during the sending process, which can produce interesting exchanges and increase appointments Of the published work. (See The effect of open access).