University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Uraba lugens Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): larval survival and parasitoid biology in the field in South Australia

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 12:42 authored by Geoff AllenGeoff Allen

Twenty-two species were found in the parasitoid complex attacking Uraba lugens Walker: 11 primary parasitoids, 10 hyperparasitoids and 1 facultative hyperparasitoid. All immature stages of U. lugens were parasitised, with larval parasitoids killing hosts from the third instar onwards. The majority of parasitoids were found in both the summer and the winter generations of U. lugens, and at least 4 of the primary parasitoids produced more than 1 generation per generation of the host. Parasitoids were collected from hosts on several species of Eucalyptus. The longevity of adult female parasitoids in the complex varied between 8 and 254 days. Of the hyperparasitoids, many were gregarious and polyphagous, and all but 1 species parasitised the pupae of primary parasitoids.

High mortality occurred among early instar larvae of U. lugens, but older instars were much less affected by mortality factors. The survival of larvae between trees and even between different groups on the 1 tree was variable. Caging of larvae greatly increased overall survival and decreased the fluctuations in mortality between larvae on different trees. Although parasitism was very high in some individual groups, it accounted for only a small proportion of mortality of U. lugens. Hyperparasitism and the presence of many polyphagous primary parasitoids in the complex may be a contributing factor to the low levels of parasitism observed on U. lugens.

History

Publication title

Journal of the Australian Entomology Society

Volume

29

Issue

4

Pagination

301-312

ISSN

0004-9050

Department/School

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA)

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Place of publication

150 Oxford St, Po Box 1139, Collingwood, Australia, Victoria, 3066

Rights statement

Copyright 1990 CSIRO

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in terrestrial environments

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC