Ritsuko Tsukuda

The effects of wild cruciferous host plants on morphology, reproductive performance and flight activity in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae)

The wild crucifers,Rorippa indica andLepidium virginicum, are known to serve as host plants for the diamondback moth (DBM),Plutella xylostella, but they are less suitable than the preferred cultivated cruciferous plant, cabbage, in terms of adult body size and fecundity. The life history traits and flight activity of DBM adults grown on various host plants were investigated. The adults thus reared on each host plant were divided into three size groups (small, medium and large). In general, female adults grown on the wild crucifers were less fecund and lived longer than those reared on cabbage. Flight activity was higher in adults grown on wild crucifers than in those reared on cabbage. Male adults flew longer than females. Fecundity, longevity, flight activity and morphometrical characters of adults were positively correlated with pupal weight in individuals reared on the same host plant. A negative relationship was found between fecundity and flight activity in females of the same size group, but a positive one was observed in females reared on the same host plant.

Influences of wild crucifers on life history traits and flight ability of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutidae)

The larvae ofPlutella xylostella were fed on five wild crucifers,Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lepidium virginicum, Cardamine flexuosa, Rorippa indica, R. islandica and a crop, cabbage. The developmental period of the immature stages, adult longevity, preoviposition period, fecundity and morphometrical characters of the adults were measured. The flight activity of the adults was also measured by the tethered flight method. All the wild plants except forR. islandica were less suitable host plants than cabbage, and larvae which were fed on these less suitable plants emerged as smaller adults with shorter wings. The smaller female adults had lower fecundity but a higher flight activity. Smaller adults measured in terms of their pupal weight among individuals fed on the same host plant had longer wings. These smaller adults with longer wing flew more actively.