Biotic potential and reproductive parameters of Spodoptera eridania (Stoll) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) in the laboratory

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Biotic potential and reprodutcive parameters of Spodoptera eridania (Stoll) (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) in the laboratory: This study aimed to evaluate the biotic potential and reproductive parameters of Spodoptera eridania (Stoll, 1782) under controlled conditions (25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 10% RH and 14 hour photophase). The longevity, pre-, post-and oviposition periods, fecundity and fertility of 15 couples was evaluated. The longevity of females (10.80 days) was not significantly higher than those of males (9.27 days). The mean durations of the pre, post and oviposition periods were 2.067, 0.600 and 8.133 days, respectively. The mean fecundity per female was 1,398 eggs and the mean fertility was 1,367.50 larvae. On average, females copulated 1.133 times. A strong positive correlation was observed between the number of mating and fecundity (r = 0.881, P <0.001). However a strong negative correlation was observed between the number of copulations and the duration of the pre-oviposition period (r = -0.826, P = 0.002) and longevity (r = -0.823, P = 0.001). The biotic potential of S. eridania was estimated at 1.894 x 10 25 individuals/female/year. The net reproductive rate (Ro) was 560.531 times per generation and the mean generation time (T) was 35.807 days. The intrinsic rate of increase (rm) was 0.177, with a finite rate of increase (l) of 1.193, per week.

Biotic potential and reproductive parameters of Spodoptera dolichos (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the laboratory

“…The number of matings observed in this study is within the range described for S. albula (MONTEZANO et al 2014a) and S. eridania (MONTEZANO et al 2013b) reared under the same conditions. The number of matings is similar to the data obtained for Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E.…”

“…Regarding the absence of mating in some S. dolichos couples, they reported that in some groups of S. frugiperda more than 20% of the females did not mate. The strong positive correlation between the number of copulations and fecundity obtained in this study, also observed with S. eridania (MONTEZANO et al 2013b) and S. frugiperda (MILANO et al 2008), suggests that a greater number of S. dolichos individuals per cage would also increase the number of copulas.…”

“…2) indicates that the pre-oviposition period of S. dolichos increases when individuals mate less often or do not mate at all, which is also reflected in their prolonged longevity. This result was also reported for S. eridania (MONTEZANO et al 2013b), Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval, 1833) (KEHAT & GORDON 1975, ELLIS & STEELE 1982, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius, 1775) (ETMAN & HOOPER 1979) and Spodoptera exigua (Hübner, 1808) (ROGERS & MARTI JR 1997).…”

“…This is less than the longevity obtained for S. albula (28.3%) (MONTEZANO et al 2013a(MONTEZANO et al , 2014a and S. eridania (24.5%) (MONTEZANO et al 2013b(MONTEZANO et al , 2014b under the same conditions. Moreover, the greater longevity of S. dolichos, like other species of the genus that have great dispersal and/or migration ability (FERGUSON et al 1991), is related to its wide distribution within the American Continents, extending between the parallels 30° North and South (e.g., POGUE 2002, PASTRANA 2004.…”

“…Nevertheless, as demonstrated for other species of the genus (KEHAT & GORDON 1975, ETMAN & HOOPER 1979, ELLIS & STEELE 1982, ROGERS & MARTI JR 1997, MONTEZANO et al 2013b), analysis of the results comparing longevity as a function of the number of matings (Fig. 4) indicates that the number of matings is an important factor to be included in longevity studies, especially considering the prolonged pre-oviposition and oviposition periods of unfertilized females t (Figs.…”