Biological characteristics of Oncocera faecella infesting Jatropha curcas and screening of pesticides

Key Words：Oncocera faecella, Jatropha curcas，Lepidoptera，biological characteristics，pesticide，screening

Abstract：The biological characteristics of Oncocera faecella Zeller, which has been found to cause disease in Jatropha curcas L. plantations in the Panzhihua and Huili regions, are described, and the effectiveness of potential pesticides to control this pest evaluated. The study population of O. faecella had five generations a year, female fecundity was (29±17.05), the egg stage was (7±1)d and hatchability was 93.23%. There were four larval instars. The amount of food consumed by 1st and 2nd instar larvae accounted for 10.6% of larval growth, much lower than the amount consumed by in 3rd and 4th instar larvae which accounted for 89.4%.The pupal stage was about 16 d, with a sex ratio of 1.04 (F)∶1 (M) and 88.96% eclosion. The adult lifespan was generally 6-8 d. Newly hatched larvae burrowed into the leaf blade and later feed on young leaves damaging new growth. Fully grown larvae went into the pupal stage within a thin cocoon in either leaf litter or foliage but overwintered as old larvae. Spraying with 1.0×10³ mg·L^-1 and 0.5×103 mg·L^-1 Alphamethrin (4.5%) and 0.5×10³ mg·L^-1 and 0.25×10³ mg·L^-1. Acephate (30%) was effective in controlling 2nd and 3rd instar larvae.