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Periodicity of adult emergence and sexual behaviour of coconut black headed caterpillar, Opisina arenosella Walker (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae)

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Abstract

In Lepidoptera sexual, oviposition and adult emergence behaviour follows a specific periodicity and is limited to either the day or the night. The knowledge on biology and behaviour are prerequisites for semiochemical based pest management. The periodicity of adult emergence, calling, courtship, mating and oviposition behaviour of Opisina arenosella Walker (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) was studied under laboratory conditions. Results revealed that males emerged 3-7 days prior to female. Both males and females emerged during 1st to 7th h of scotophase. Peak emergence of male and female was recorded on 2nd and 3rd hrs, respectively. Calling of virgin females started 1-2 hrs after emergence and there is no sexual maturation time. The female calling starts at 4th h of the scotophase and end during 7th h but is slightly delayed for females who emerged the same night. While male wing fanning start from 3rd h of scotophase continued to 11th h. Peak mating occurred on 5th h of scotophase with mean mating duration of 58.83±0.804 min. Oviposition required 2 days maturation period. Peak oviposition occurred during 3rd and 4th scotophases. Oviposition by females started in early hours of scotophase and peaked at 6th h. The female fecundity was 273.63±64.01. Adult emergence, calling, mating and oviposition pattern of the moths showed periodicity occurring precise time of scotophase.

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Acknowledgement

Authors would like to thank to, Head, and staff of Department of Agricultural Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences Bangalore India, and Indian commonwealth scholarship/fellowship plan, 2012/13 to funding the postgraduate studies. Also wish to Timmana, Narasa Reddy G., Basana Gowda G, Mahran Zeity, M Sultani, Saleem S and Harsha HS for helping during the study. The authors wish to thank YB Srinivasa for commenting on the draft of the manuscript and M Motielal to language editing.

Conflict of interest

The authors declared that they have no conflict of interest because this paper is a part of post graduate study. The study was conducted by first author. Both third and fourth authors were guided and corrected the study as co-advisor and major advisor while second author technically supported and encouraged the first author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agric. Entomology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore, India, 560065

    A D N T Kumara & M Chandrashekharaiah

  2. Division of Insect Ecology, National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bellary Road, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, 560024

    K Subaharan

  3. Division of Entomology and Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bengalore, India, 560089

    A K Chakravarthy

  4. Division of Crop Protection, Coconut Research Institute, Lunuwila, Sri Lanka

    A D N T Kumara

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  1. A D N T Kumara
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  2. M Chandrashekharaiah
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  4. A K Chakravarthy
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Correspondence to A D N T Kumara.

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Kumara, A.D.N.T., Chandrashekharaiah, M., Subaharan, K. et al. Periodicity of adult emergence and sexual behaviour of coconut black headed caterpillar, Opisina arenosella Walker (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae). Phytoparasitica 43, 701–712 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-015-0481-2

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