Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T18:36:27.706Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Field and laboratory experiments on the site of oviposition by the potato moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zell.) (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

R. M. M. Traynier
Affiliation:
CSIRO Division of Entomology, P.O. Box 1700, Canberra City, A.C.T. 2601, Australia

Abstract

Counts of first-instar larvae showed that in a potato plot near Canberra, A.C.T., eggs of Phthorimaea operculella (Zell.) were more prevalent around the bases of plants than between the rows or 2 m outside the plot; the few eggs on the plants were on dead leaves. In small plots each of different plant species, with due allowance for predation, many eggs were laid around tobacco and potato, and few or none near tomato, maize, lettuce or pea. Older larvae were most numerous on tobacco plants, while adults were most numerous on potato plants. A series of laboratory experiments using different oviposition substrates showed that the factors favouring oviposition could be ranked, in descending order: coarse substrate, shade, and treatment of the substrate with juices of potato tubers or foliage; foliage of potato or tobacco was not preferred.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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

Atherton, D. O. (1936). Leaf miner and stem borer of tobacco in north Queensland.—Qd agric. J. 45, 1231.Google Scholar
Balac̀howsky, A. S. & Réal, P. (1966). La teigne de la pomme de terre. In Balachowsky, A. S. (Ed.) Entomologie appliquée à l'agriculture Tome II, Lepidoptères, Vol. 1, pp. 371381. Paris, Masson.Google Scholar
Bartolini, P. (1951). La Phthorimaea operculella Zeller (Lep. Gelechiidae) in Italia (Note sulla morfologia, biologia e mezzi di lotta).—Redia 36, 301379.Google Scholar
Broodryk, S. W. (1970). Ecological investigations on the potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).—Phytophylactica 3, 7383.Google Scholar
Cannon, R. C. (1948). Investigations in the control of the potato tuber moth, Gnorimoschema operculella Zell. (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in north Queensland.—Qd J. agric. Sci. 5, 107124.Google Scholar
Edwards, B. A. B. (1954). The potato moth Gnorimoschema operculella (Zell.).—J. Agric. West. Aust. 3, 531534.Google Scholar
Labeyrie, V. (1957). Influence de l'alimentation sur la ponte de la teigne de la pomme de terre (Gnorimoschema operculella Z.) (Lep. Gelechiidae).—Bull. Soc. ent. Fr. 62, 6467.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meisner, J. (1969). Attraction and repellence in the potato tuber moth Gnorimoschema operculella Zell.: phagostimulants and antifeedants for the larvae; some factors of the attraction to oviposition.—Ph.D. Thesis, Hebrew University of Jerusalem.Google Scholar
Mendes, L. O. T. (1938). Segunda contribuição sobre a ocurrência da “Traça da Batatinha” (Gnorimoschema operculella) (Zeller) (Lepidoptera-Gelechiidae) no Estado de S. Paulo.—Jorn. Agron. 1, 415452.Google Scholar
Pescott, R. T. M. (1940). The potato moth attacks tomatoes.—J. Dep. Agric. Vict. 38, 236.Google Scholar
Picard, F. (1913). La teigne des pommes de terre (Phthorimaea operculella).Annls Serv. Épiphyt. 1, 106176.Google Scholar
Platner, G. R. & Oatman, E. R. (1968). An improved technique for producing potato tuber-worm eggs for mass production of natural enemies.—J. econ. Ent. 61, 10541057.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reed, E. M. (1971). Factors affecting the status of a virus as a control agent for the potato moth (Phthorimaea operculella (Zell.) (Lep., Gelechiidae))Bull. ent. Res. 61, 207222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wearne, G. R. (1971). Improved methods for the production of parasites of the potato moth Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).—J. Aust. entomol. Soc. 10, 6163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yathom, S. (1968). Phenology of the tuber moth, Gnorimoschema operculella Zell., in Israel in the spring.—Israel J. agric. Res. 18, 8990.Google Scholar