Life history traits and damage potential of an invasive pest Acharia fusca (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae) on oil palm

Abstract

The development, life history, and fecundity of Acharia fusca Stoll (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae), an important oil palm pest, was studied at various treatments of temperatures ranging from 10 to 40°C, at a constant relative humidity of 75 ± 5% and a photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D) h. In addition, the amount of leaf consumed by larval instars was measured. Females and males successfully developed into adults within 15-35°C. However, no eggs were found at 10°C, and all adults died after exposure to 40°C. The developmental time from egg to adult ranged between 170.5 d at 15°C and 76.6 d at 35°C (F1,97 = 56.2; P < 0.0001). Temperature had a strong effect on the survivorship of A. fusca from the egg to adult emergence, increasing between 15 and 20°C, peaked at 25-30°C, and then declined slightly at 35°C. The different periods of the insect's total reproductive life varied between 15 and 35°C, with the preoviposition periods ranging between 6.82 and 3.24 d, the oviposition period between 17.5 and 4.89 d, and the postoviposition period between 5.29 and 0.82 d. Female longevity was greater than male longevity at all temperatures. The total amount of leaf area consumed by one larva was 402.31 cm2. The results indicated that the development period from egg to adult death at the decreased with increasing temperature and the larvae maintained a high consumption rate on Elaeis guineensis Jacquin leaves. The effect of temperature on development, survival, and reproduction of A. fusca can be useful for predicting its long-term population fluctuation as an invasive pest of oil palm plantations.