Architectural changes in larval leaf shelters of Noctuana haematospila (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) between host plant species with different leaf thicknesses

Abstract

Insect-food-plant associations have been shown to be influenced by the chemical, physical and nutritional characteristics of plants. We suggest that among insect larvae that use leaf material to build shelters, food-plant use may be constrained by differences in host leaf structure, illuminating a rarely investigated aspect of insect-plant interactions. To explore the potential effects of leaf structure on shelter building behavior in a Neotropical skipper butterfly, we investigated shelter building patterns on two congeneric food-plants that varied in leaf thickness. Shelter architecture varied significantly between hosts, with thicker leaves requiring longer cuts to construct shelters. The relationship between shelter building behavior and leaf structure is discussed in relation to selection pressures on larval shelters and food-plant choice

SIKLUS HIDUP LARVA Nyctemera coleta DAN Paliga auratalis SEBAGAI HAMA PADA TANAMAN DAUN SAMBUNG NYAWA (Gynura procumbens)TANAMAN DAUN SAMBUNG NYAWA (Gynura procumbens) Life Cycle of Nyctemera coleta and Paliga auratalis In Gynura procumbens Leaf

“…Larva menghasilkan saliva yang dikeluarkan dari mulutnya yang akan mengeras menjadi struktur yang mirip benang-benang halus berwarna putih yang kemudian digunakan oleh larva untuk membuat tempat berlindung pada permukaan daun dengan cara merekatkan sisi permukaan daun sehingga daun menggulung. Greeney et al (2010) menyatakan bahwa perilaku larva mengeluarkan cairan saliva dari mulutnya adalah untuk melindungi dirinya dari serangan predator.…”

“…Kedua larva tersebut menyerang daun sambung nyawa sehingga pertumbuhannya terhambat. Serangga dari ordo Lepidoptera umumnya bersifat polifag, tetapi pada stadium larva yang bersifat herbivora, merupakan hama karena merusak daun di berbagai pertanaman termasuk tanaman obat (Greeney et al 2010;Balfas dan Willis 2009 Kedua ulat tersebut menyerang tanaman sambung nyawa sepanjang tahun baik pada musim kemarau maupun musim hujan, dengan intensitas serangan tertinggi terjadi pada akhir musim kemarau hingga awal musim penghujan. Larva kedua serangga ini menyerang tanaman sejak di pembibitan hingga pada tanaman dewasa.…”

Status of Paliga auratalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) as black potato pest and its control strategy using natural enemies

“…Paliga auratalis was also reported as insect pest of sambung nyawa plants (Gynura procumbens) in Indonesia, and the symptoms this caterpillar pest were rolled the leaves and leaves become dry due to the saliva released from the mouth of the larva (Rismayani and Rohimatun, 2017). Larval behaviour releasing saliva from its mouth serves to protect itself from predator attacks (Greeney et al, 2010).…”

Invasive grass negatively affects growth and survival of an imperiled butterfly

“…For example, a more tightly bound shelter may be possible with prairie dropseed (numerous narrow leaf blades around a circular base) relative to little bluestem (fewer broad blades around a flattened base). These differences may result in variations in visibility to predators and parasitoids and microclimatic differences that may influence survivorship and/or growth rates (Greeney et al 2010b). Anecdotally, over the course of this study, variation in shelter size and orientation above or below surface of the soil line was observed.…”