DEVELOPMENT AND SURVIVAL OF MYTHIMNA CONVECTA (WALKER) AND PERSECTANIA EWINGII (WESTWOOD) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) ON CEREAL AND GRASS HOSTS

Abstract

The development rate, survival and pupal weight of the armyworms Mythimna convecta and Persectania ewingii were compared after the larvae were reared on seedling or mature vegetative forms of wheat, oats and barley. No larvae of P. ewingii survived on oat seedlings, and on mature oats survival and growth rates were significantly lower than on other cereals. P. ewingii growth rates were also lower on the seedling form of barley than that of wheat. Immature development rates of M. convecta were unaffected by cereal species, although pupae grown from oats were significantly heavier. M. convecta was also tested on a number of pasture grasses. The species had maximum growth rates on barley grass (Hordeum leporinum), performed well on rye grass (Lolium perenne) (with and without the fungal endophyte Acremonium lolii) and kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), and had significantly slower growth rates on paspalum (Paspalum dilatum) and Mitchell grass (Astrebla pectinata). The possible mechanisms of plant resistance are discussed in relation to the results. Copyright © 1991, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved