The biological characteristics of Agriphila aeneociliella and methods for monitoring and managing this pest

Author of the article:ZENG Juan1** JIANG Yu-Ying1 WANG Hai-Ying2 YUAN Guo-Hui2 DONG Bao-Xin3 QIN Yin-Xue4

Author's Workplace：1. National Agro-Technical Extension and Service Centre, Beijing 100125, China; 2. Plant Protection Station of Laizhou, Laizhou 261400, China; 3. Plant Protection Station of Shandong Province, Jinan, 250100, China; 4. Plant Protection and Quarantine Station of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030001, China

Key Words：Agriphila aeneociliella, wheat insect pest, annual life history, biological characteristics

Abstract：    [Objectives] In recent years, a new wheat insect pest has occurred in Laizhou (Shandong) and Zezhou (Shanxi), which has been identified as Agriphila aeneociliella. This paper seeks to determine its biological characteristics and provide a basis for population monitoring and management. [Methods] The biological characteristics of A. aeneociliella, including annual life history and habits of each life-stage, were studied by field investigation, net-room observation, pair feeding and  adult light trapping. [Results] In the wheat planting area of the Huang-Huai-Hai plain, this insect pest has one generation annually. The larvae over-winter as 2-3 instar larvae from November to February, feed on wheat seedlings in March and April,live through summer as cocoons, in which old larvae diapause from May to August, until September when they pupate. From  late September to early October, the adults emerge, mate and lay their eggs; the hatching young larvae are the overwintering  form. The adults have phototaxis and are inclined to lay eggs in /on soil. The larvae prefer tender parts of plants and have a “spot-and-sheet” distribution in the field. The overwintering larvae have high cold resistance, but the dispausing cocoons can’t survive water-logging. [Conclusion] Knowledge of the timing of adult emergence in autumn, the initial damage caused bylarvae in early spring and the summer dispause are crucial for population monitoring and management of this insect pest.