Effects of different host plants on the development and fecundity ofLemyra alikangensis (Strand) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae
Author of the article:SU Chao1,2**JING Jun1,2WANG MengMeng1FANG Yan1,2LI Kai1,2***
Author's Workplace：1. School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai200241, China;
Key Words：Lemyra alikangensis, host plant, development, nutrition effects, feeding choice
Abstract： The effects of five host plants (Ficus erecta Thunb. var. beecheyana (Hook. et Arn.) King, Clerodendrum cyrtophyllum Turcz, Diospyros oleiera Cheng, Camptotheca acuminate Decne, Myrica rubra (Lour.) Sieb. et Zucc) on the development and fecundity of Lemyra alikangensis (Strand) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) were studied under laboratory conditions (26±1)℃, 80% RH and a photoperiod of 12L∶12D). The results show that there were significant differences in feeding preferences, larval period, total survival rate, egg number laid per female and nutrition effects among the larvae feeding on these different host plants. 4th instar larvae preferred Cl. cyrtophyllum, and did not like Ca. acuminata and M. rubra. Larvae that fed on Cl. cyrtophyllum had the shortest larval period (3920±179)d, the highest larvae survival rate (4571%) and the largest egg number laid per female (55375±6169). The longest larval period (4825±222)d, lowest total survival rate (2857%) and egg number per female (38625±5105) was observed in larvae feeding on M. rubra. In addition, the relative growth rate (RGR) (030±003)mg·mg-1·d-1, efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) (1346±184)% and approximate digestibility (AD) (6204±629)% were all highest in larvae feeding on Cl. cyrtophyllum, but the efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) (2165±095)% was quite low. Larvae feeding on M. rubra had the lowest RGR (012±003)mg·mg-1·d-1 and AD (1475±148)%, but a relatively high ECI (541±061)%, and the highest ECD (3679±407)%. In conclusion, Cl. cyrtophyllum is the most suitable host plant for L. alikangensis and M. rubra the least suitable.