Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11681/6306
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dc.contributorUnited States. Agricultural Research Service.-
dc.contributorAquatic Plant Control Research Program (U.S.)-
dc.contributor.authorWheeler, Gregory S., 1955--
dc.contributor.authorCenter, Ted D.-
dc.contributor.authorVan, Thai K. (Thai Khac), 1941--
dc.date.accessioned2016-03-23T19:54:29Z-
dc.date.available2016-03-23T19:54:29Z-
dc.date.issued1998-09-
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11681/6306-
dc.descriptionTechnical report-
dc.descriptionAbstract: Performance of the specialist herbivore Spodoptera pectinicornis (Hampson) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was studied when fed the floating aquatic plant waterlettuce Pistia stratiotes L. (Araceae). Plants were either collected from six populations in south Florida or from plants grown with low or high fertilizer levels. Consumption of leaves with increasing toughness resuited in increased larval mortality to more than 80 percent; most mortality occurred during the first instar. Larvae fed low nitrogen leaves required up to twice the time and typically an extra instar to complete development. Larvae compensated for low nitrogen leaves by increasing fresh weight consumption threefold. Despite these dietary challenges, the biomass gained by the larvae was similar regardless of the quality of leaves consumed. These results are useful in understanding the adaptations and limitations of specialist herbivores to low nutrient foods. Additionally, they assisted in the selection of suitable release sites for this weed biological control agent. Finally, they improved mass rearing techniques for augmentative releases of this biological control species.-
dc.publisherUS Army Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station-
dc.publisherEngineer Research and Development Center (U.S.)-
dc.relationhttp://acwc.sdp.sirsi.net/client/en_US/search/asset/1003854-
dc.rightsApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited.-
dc.sourceThis Digital Resource was created from scans of the Print Resource-
dc.subjectCompensatory feeding-
dc.subjectNitrogen-
dc.subjectWeed biological control-
dc.subjectBiocontrol-
dc.subjectAquatic plants-
dc.subjectHost plant quality-
dc.subjectPistia stratiotes-
dc.subjectLeaf toughness-
dc.subjectSpodoptera pectinicornis-
dc.titleInfluence of Pistia stratiotes plant quality on the growth and development of the biological control agent Spodoptera pectinicornis-
dc.typeReporten_US
Appears in Collections:Technical Report

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