Influence of plants and adult food on the fecundity of the potato moth, phthorimaea operculella
1983
TRAYNIER, R.M.M.
Adult Phthorimaea operculella (Zell.) developed their first oocytes within a few hours of emergence from the pupa. P. operculella mated and oviposited in the absence of plants, but oviposition increased given contact with host plants or high levels of host odour. The absolute number of eggs laid in the presence of potato was greater in better-fed moths, but in starved moths the proportional increase was larger. Dissections showed this extra oviposition was linked with an increased number of mature oocytes and with new oocytes produced by the germarium. In well-fed moths these developments occurred during the nocturnal oviposition period, even when oviposition was prevented by an artificial extension of the photoperiod. In starved moths with low fecundity, potato induced the development of additional oocytes during the photophase before the oviposition period. There was no evidence that potato foliage released oviposition. The fecundity of well-fed moths in the presence of any of 4 species of non-host plants was the same as with green paper. In moths on a sub-optimal diet, however, fecundity was increased significantly by lettuce foliage, but the influence of potato foliage was unchanged by the addition of non-host leaves. Unmated ♀♀ laid few eggs and lacked on ovarian response to potato. Oosorption was generally absent. In another, separate influence, potato materials localized oviposition.
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