Life history and feeding behaviour of the oil palm bagworm Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)


Citation

Mohd Basri W., . and Kevan P.G., . Life history and feeding behaviour of the oil palm bagworm Metisa plana Walker (Lepidoptera: Psychidae). pp. 18-34. ISSN 0128-1828

Abstract

Bagworms were reared in a controlled environment room (CER) to obtain details of their life history. Eggs were pale and barrel-shaped and their incubation period was 19.7 (plus minus) 0.3 days. Fecundity of laboratory-reared females was higher than that of wild-caught females (158.3 (plus minus) 0.3 vs 99.9 (plus minus) 5.7 eggs/female) yet lower than those recorded for several other species of Psychidae. Fertility was high (generally 90 percent). Sexual dimorphism in instar number was recorded (5-6 for males vs 6-7 for females). Head capsule widths bag lengths and morphology can be used to determine instars. Most leaf tissue removed from oil palm foliage (66.8 percent) was used for maintenance and body growth and the remainder for bag construction. Larvae preferred upper leaf surface for feeding and lower surface for resting and moulting. Sexual dimorphism was also noted in pupa; size (males smalller than females) and developmental time (males 21.4 (plus minus) 0.3 days; females 10.0 (plus minus) 0.4 days). Total developmental times of males and females did not differ suggesting that overlapping generatons are not requisite for an outbreak. Sex ratio was male-biased (8.5:1)


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Abstract

Bagworms were reared in a controlled environment room (CER) to obtain details of their life history. Eggs were pale and barrel-shaped and their incubation period was 19.7 (plus minus) 0.3 days. Fecundity of laboratory-reared females was higher than that of wild-caught females (158.3 (plus minus) 0.3 vs 99.9 (plus minus) 5.7 eggs/female) yet lower than those recorded for several other species of Psychidae. Fertility was high (generally 90 percent). Sexual dimorphism in instar number was recorded (5-6 for males vs 6-7 for females). Head capsule widths bag lengths and morphology can be used to determine instars. Most leaf tissue removed from oil palm foliage (66.8 percent) was used for maintenance and body growth and the remainder for bag construction. Larvae preferred upper leaf surface for feeding and lower surface for resting and moulting. Sexual dimorphism was also noted in pupa; size (males smalller than females) and developmental time (males 21.4 (plus minus) 0.3 days; females 10.0 (plus minus) 0.4 days). Total developmental times of males and females did not differ suggesting that overlapping generatons are not requisite for an outbreak. Sex ratio was male-biased (8.5:1)

Additional Metadata

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Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Summary (En)
AGROVOC Term: ELAEIS GUINEENSIS
AGROVOC Term: CICLO VITAL
AGROVOC Term: HABITOS ALIMENTARIOS
AGROVOC Term: PSYCHIDAE
AGROVOC Term: DIMORFISMO SEXUAL
AGROVOC Term: REPRODUCTIVIDAD
AGROVOC Term: FERTILIDAD
AGROVOC Term: PALMAS OLEAGINOSAS
Depositing User: Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified: 24 Apr 2025 05:51
URI: http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/17070

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