Consumption and utilization of various host plants by Melanoplus bivittatus (Say) and M. femurrubrum (DeGeer) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Abstract

Nymphal stages of Melanoplus bivittatus (Say) and M. femurrubrum (DeGeer) that were reared on five plant diets fed and grew at different rates. Differential mortality was obtained among the two species reared on the various diets, with the highest occurring in those feeding on alfalfa. On all plants a direct linear relationship was obtained between rate of food consumption and rate of growth, and slopes varied from 0.18 to 0.25 in M. bivittatus and from 0.14 to 0.18 in M. femurrubrum. The approximate digestibility on the various plants were all in the range of 41 to 47% for M. bivittatus and 37 to 48% for M. femurrubrum. The efficiency of conversion of digested food to body tissue (ECD) varied from 35 to 44% in M. bivittatus and from 33 to 44% in M. femurrubrum. The efficiency of conversion of ingested food to body tissue (ECI) varied from 15 to 18% in M. bivittatus, and from 15 to 19% in M. femurrubrum. Egg production in M. bivittatus varied from 196 on corn to 450 on radish; it was lower in M. femurrubrum, and varied from 162 on corn to 336 on the mixed diet.

Effect of food plants on the growth rate and survivability of Hieroglyphus banian(Fabricius)(Orthoptera: Acridoidea), a major paddy pest in India.

“…A nutritional deficiency in the plant could cause the digested portion of the food to be poorly utilized, resulting in a lower ECD (Bailey and Mukerji, 1976). A similar observation was found in our study, where a lower ECD was noticed in a nutritionally poorer plant like C. kyllingia, whereas, nutritionally richer plant like C. dactylon showed a greater ECD.…”

“…According to Bailey and Mukerji (1976), an insects' ability to consume a variety of food plants indicates little with regard to the ability of plants to support growth. Low digestibility of a plant may result in most of the ingested material being voided in the faeces rather than being assimilated.…”

On the food preferences and application of Dyar's law to different hopper instars ofChoroedocus illustrisWalker (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

“…According to Bailey and Mukerji (1976), an insect ability to consume a variety of food plants is not a good indication of the ability of plants to support growth. Low digestibility of a plant may result in most of the ingested materials being voided in faeces rather than being assimilated, therefore ingestion of the plant does not ensure growth (Fraenke & Soo Hoo 1966).…”

Life history and larval performance of the Peacock pansy butterfly, Junonia almana Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera: Nymphalidae)

“…This is indicative of low efficiency of conversion of digested food to body tissues. This poor utilization of food is often attributed to deficiency in some essential nutrient in food [25] or a factor causing an increase in energy expenditure on metabolism [26]. The pattern of ECI values followed closely the pattern of ECD.…”