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Population dynamics ofMalacosoma neustria testacea (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae): Stabilizing process in a field population

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Researches on Population Ecology

Summary

Stabilizing mechanism in population ofMalacosoma neustria testacea was investigated in a central part of Japan based on eight year survey.

Population fluctuation in each developmental stage in the experimental field was rather small, i.e., 5.9 times in egg and 85.0 times in female adult. Pupal weight negatively correlated with the densities of 5th instar larvae and prepupae (cocoons) and correlation coefficient was highly significant in females. Population density was stabilized by density-dependent dispersal of female moths in preovipositional period. Comparison between fecundity of emerged moths and that of actually oviposited ones in the experimental field suggested that density-dependent dispersal took place as the result of density-dependent size variation, i.e., small-sized female months have higher flying ability. This hypothesis was supported by the experiment in which flying ability of newly emerged female moth was measured. Similar stabilizing mechanism is expected to occur in semelparous or pro-ovigenic insects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fruit Tree Research Station, Ôhara, Hiratsuka, 254, Kanagawa, Japan

    Masakazu Shiga

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  1. Masakazu Shiga
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Contribution Ser. A, No. 64 from Fruit Tree Research Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Japan

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Shiga, M. Population dynamics ofMalacosoma neustria testacea (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae): Stabilizing process in a field population. Res Popul Ecol 18, 284–301 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02510854

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