Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T19:34:25.644Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIONOMICS OF THE DARK-SIDED CUTWORM, EUXOA MESSORIA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE), IN ONTARIO1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

H. H. Cheng
Affiliation:
Research Station, Canada Department of Agriculture, Delhi, Ontario

Abstract

The dark-sided cutworm, Euxoa messoria (Harris), has a North American distribution and is commonly found in tobacco fields in Ontario. It has one generation a year, and overwinters as an egg in the soil. Hatching takes place in early April and the young larvae feed on the rye rotation crop; later they attack newly transplanted tobacco seedlings. Head width measurements of larvae collected from the field show seven instars, but individual rearing data of E. messoria larvae reveal that small numbers pass through six and an occasional larva passes through eight; however, the eighth instar has the same head width as the seventh. Pupation occurs from late July to mid-August in the soil. The adult emerges from mid-August to October, and oviposition occurs in this same period. Eggs are completely developed before winter. Behaviour and duration of the different stages are described. Natural mortality factors of the species are given.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1973

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

Bruce, V. G. and Pittendrigh, C. S.. 1957. Endogenous rhythms in insects and microorganisms. Am. Nat. 91: 179195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bucher, G. E. and Cheng, H. H.. 1970. Use of trap plants for attracting cutworm larvae. Can. Ent. 102: 797798.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bucher, G. E. 1971. Mortality in larvae of Euxoa messoria (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) collected from the tobacco area of Ontario. Can. Ent. 103: 888892.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Callahan, P. S. 1958. Behaviour of the image of the corn earworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), with special reference to emergence and reproduction. Ann. ent. Soc. Am. 51: 271283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Callahan, P. S. and Chapin, J. B.. 1960. Morphology of the reproductive systems and mating in two representative members of the family Noctuidae, Pseudaletia unipuncta and Peridroma margaritosa, with comparison to Heliothis zea. Ann. ent. Soc. Am. 53: 763782.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cheng, H. H. 1970. Characters for distinguishing the sex of pupae of the dark-sided cutworm, Euxoa messoria (Harris), (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Can. J. Zool. 48: 587588.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cheng, H. H. 1971. Assessment of tobacco losses caused by the dark-sided cutworm, Euxoa messoria (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Delhi, Ontario. Can. Ent. 103: 534541.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cheng, H. H. 1972. Oviposition and longevity of the dark-sided cutworm, Euxoa messoria (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in the laboratory. Can. Ent. 104: 919925.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crumb, S. E. 1929. Tobacco cutworms. Tech. Bull. U.S. Dep. Agric. 88. 180 pp.Google Scholar
Crumb, S. E. 1932. The more important climbing cutworms. Bull. Brooklyn ent. Soc. 27: 7398.Google Scholar
Gabbutt, P. D. 1959. The bionomics of the wood cricket, Nemobius sylvestris (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). J. Anim. Ecol. 28: 1542.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibson, A. 1915. Cutworms and their control. Dom. Can. Dep. Agric. Ent. Br. Bull. 10. 31 PP.Google Scholar
Guppy, J. C. 1961. Life history and behaviour of the armyworm, Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haw.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in eastern Ontario. Can. Ent. 93: 11411153.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hardwick, D. F. 1970. The genus Euxoa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in North America. 1. Subgenera Orosagrotis, Longivesica, Chorizagrotis, Pleonectopoda, and Crassivesica. Mem. ent. Soc. Can., No. 67.Google Scholar
Jacobson, L. A. 1965. Mating and oviposition of the pale western cutworm, Agrotis orthogonia Morrison (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), in the laboratory. Can. Ent. 97: 9941000.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jacobson, L. A. 1970. Laboratory ecology of the red-backed cutworm, Euxoa ochrogaster (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Can. Ent. 102: 8589.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lukefahr, M. 1957. Mating and oviposition habits of the pink bollworm moth. J. econ. Ent. 50: 487490.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ouye, M. T. et al. , 1964. Mating studies of the pink bollworm. J. econ. Ent. 57: 222225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Peck, O. 1963. A catalogue of the Nearctic Chalcidoidea (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Can. Ent. Suppl. 30.Google Scholar