Vitalität von Raupen und ihre Bedeutung für die Entwicklung zum Schmetterling

The role caterpillar fitness has in moth hatching

Wien

2006

3 Abb., 16 Lit. Ang.

Artikel aus einer ZeitschriftUnselbständiges Werk

12531

200132582

In May 2005, three forms of small green caterpillars considered to be either Winter Moth, Operophtera brumata (Linnaeus, 1758) and Northern Winter Moth, Operophtera fagata (Scharfenberg, 1805) were noted to pupate at a shorter length than described. 140 of these three larva forms were separated for pupation and further identification, and from these a single male moth of O. brumata hatched. In direct comparison seven hatched from eight clearly identifiable O. brumata. In rechecking the description material, a wider search was made to find explanations for the smaller larvae. From this search it was found the Winter Moths can pupate from 10 mm up to the 15-20 mm normal, but the smaller than 15 mm larvae's pupae "fitness" has been compromised through feeding factors, and their success of attaining imago, severely affected or removed.