Summary
To investigate the aggregative nature of the larvae ofPieris rapae crucivora, each 50 individuals of the 4th and 5th instar larvae collected from cabbage farms and reared under crowded and solitary conditions were released on an experimental arena and their dispersive behaviour was observed with the lapse of time.
Both the 4th and 5th instar larvae showed the trend to approach toward random distribution when they were released under clumped condition, and they maintained random distribution when they were released at random.
Therefore, it may be concluded that the larvae have not any aggregative nature caused by the mutual attraction among individuals. However, as the larvae reared in crowds sometimes showed the slight aggregative behaviour, it seems that the larval dispersal is different between densely and sparsely populated plants in field.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Itô, Y. et al. (1960) On the spatial distribution ofPieris rapae crucivora population.Jap. J. Appl. Ent. Zool.,4: 141–145. (In Japanese with English summary).
Kobayashi, S. (1960) Studies on the progressive change in the distribution pattern of the common cabbage butterfly,Pieris rapae crucivora Boisduval in a cabbage farm and its mechanisms.Jap. J. Ecol.,10: 233–238. (In Japanese with English summary).
Kobayashi, S. (1963) The distribution ofPieris rapae crucivora on cabbage leaves.Jap. J. Ecol.,13: 226–230 (In Japanese with English summary).
Long, D. B. (1955) Observations on subsocial behaviour in two species of lepidopterous larvae,Pieris brassicae L. andPlusia gamma L.Trans. R. Ent. Soc. Lond.,106: 421–437.
Morisita, M. (1959) Measuring of the dispersion of individuals and analysis of the distributional patterns.Mem. Fac. Sci. Kyushu Univ., Ser. E (Biol.),2: 215–235.
Morisita, M. (1962) 1δ-index, a measure of dispersion of individuals.Res. Popul. Ecol.,4: 1–7.
Utida, S. et al. (1952) Pattern of spatial distribution of the common cabbage butterfly,Pieris rapae, in a cabbage farm.Res. Popul. Ecol. 1: 49–63 (In Japanese with English summary).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kobayashi, S. Dispersive behaviour of larvae of the common cabbage butterflyPieris rapae crucivora . Res Popul Ecol 5, 102–106 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02518834
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02518834