Life history traits of two important lepidopteran pests, the carnation tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) and the light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana)
Zielonka, M.W. (2021) Life history traits of two important lepidopteran pests, the carnation tortrix (Cacoecimorpha pronubana) and the light brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana). Doctoral thesis, Harper Adams University.
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Abstract
Cacoecimorpha pronubana (Hübner, [1799]) and Epiphyas postvittana (Walker, 1863) are economically important polyphagous pest species. Larvae of these moths affect a wide range of horticultural crops. The larva produces silk which it uses to roll leaves creating a shelter against predators and natural enemies, and feeds of the foliage. The main hypothesis of this study was that different host plant species affect life history traits of C. pronubana and E. postvittana differently, and that there are differences in life history traits between these two polyphagous species. In order to test the main hypothesis, there were objectives formulated analysing overall abundance and phenology of C. pronubana and E. postvittana, their oviposition preference, relative performance, and effect of host plants on life history of these two herbivorous species. The main aim of this study was that improved understanding of the life history traits of these two herbivore pest species will help in developing improved integrated pest management systems within horticultural crop habitats. For this, the effect of abiotic factors on population dynamics and abundance of these species of moth in the ornamental crop habitats was analysed. Further studies involved investigating the life history traits of these two Lepidopterans under controlled environmental conditions at 20°C, relative humidity of 60% and a 16L:8D photoperiod. These included analyses on oviposition preference towards six different ornamental host plant species, the effect of six different host plant species on the larval development and the relationships between different life stages of the insect, as well as the effect of intergenerational dietary changes on the life history traits of both species of moth originating from two different diets. Noticeable differences were observed between these two species in terms of population dynamics and seasonal appearance based on a five-year study period (2015-2019). Further study showed that oviposition preference in terms of clutch size differed neither between the moth species, nor between the host plants. Larval host plants, however, affected the survival, duration of larval stage, pupal weight and fecundity. It was shown that the longer the duration of larval stage is, the greater the negative effect on female development. Change in larval diet affected oviposition behaviour of both species. Interesting results, however, were identified in the oviposition behaviour in terms of the change in the clutch size, which was affected by transgenerational change in a diet. It was concluded that better understanding of the population dynamics and the behaviour of these two tortricid (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) species may be useful in developing forecasting models and in determining crop specific dynamics of these two generalists in developing improved IPM strategies within horticultural crop habitats
| Item Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
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| Divisions: | Agriculture and Environment (from 1.08.20) |
| Depositing User: | Ms Kath Osborn |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Nov 2021 13:20 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Mar 2022 03:30 |
| URI: | https://hau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/17771 |
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