Life Table Analysis for Cactoblastis Cactorum Immatures and Female Adults Under Five Constant Temperatures: Implications for Pest Management
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ECOLOGY AND POPULATION BIOLOGY Life Table Analysis for Cactoblastis cactorum Immatures and Female Adults under Five Constant Temperatures: Implications for Pest Management 1 2 JESUSA CRISOSTOMO LEGASPI AND BENJAMIN C. LEGASPI, JR. USDAÐARSÐCMAVE, Center for Biological Control, Florida A&M University, 6383 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32308 Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 100(4): 497Ð505 (2007) ABSTRACT The cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was reported in Florida in 1989, and it is expanding its geographical range to threaten Opuntia cactus (Cactaceae) in the southwestern United States, into Mexico, where it is an important economic crop. Laboratory life history studies were conducted at 18, 22, 26, 30, and 34ЊC to understand cactus moth biology and to develop strategies for control. Duration of immature stages was generally longest at 18ЊC, declining signiÞcantly at 22ЊC, and shortest at 26, 30, and 34ЊC. Total immature developmental time from eggs to pupae was Ϸ180dat18ЊC, 116 at 22ЊC, and ranged from 65 to 72 d at 26Ð34ЊC. Developmental rate for egg-to-pupal stages was estimated using the logistic equation, rate ϭ 0.0165/(1 ϩ (T/ 20.7093)Ϫ5.8823). Percentage survival of immatures was usually lowest at the temperature extremes tested (18 and 34ЊC), but they did not differ between the sexes. Estimated lower developmental threshold temperature was 13.3ЊC, resulting in estimated degree-days for development from Ϸ845 at 18ЊC to 1,387 at 34ЊC. In general, pupal weights declined with increasing temperature, and they were always lower in males than in females. Female adult survivorship was longest at 18ЊC, and shortest at 34ЊC, with the other treatments clustered between the temperature extremes. The highest repro- ductive values were found at 30ЊC, which indicates an approximate optimal temperature. Net repro- ductive rate (R0), gross reproductive rate (GRR), generation time (T), intrinsic rate of increase (r), Þnite rate of increase (), and doubling time (DT) were 43.68 Ǩ/Ǩ, 44.02 Ǩ/Ǩ, 67.14 d, 0.0562 Ǩ/Ǩ/d, 1.058 Ǩ/Ǩ/d, and 12.33 d, respectively. An oviposition rate surface describing mean oviposition rate as a function of time and temperature was, eggs ϭ (Ϫ11.241 ϩ 0.854T) d exp (Ϫ0.020Td). Given the life history characteristics found in this study and other studies, cost-effective pest management strategies against C. cactorum are discussed. KEY WORDS cactus moth, life history, Opuntia cacti, development, fecundity The cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lep- caused by unintended consequences of introduced idoptera: Pyralidae), is widely cited as an example of control agents (Zimmermann et al. 2000). In 1989, C. successful classical biological control after its impor- cactorum was reported in south Florida, its Þrst doc- tation into Australia from Argentina in 1926 to control umented occurrence in mainland North America invasive species of Opuntia cacti (Cactaceae) (De- (Mahr 2001). The method by which C. cactorum was Bach 1974). Its historic role as a biological control introduced into Florida is unknown, but a compelling agent is well documented (Simmonds and Bennett possibility was through commercial importations of 1966, Mahr 2001, van Driesche and Bellows 2001, Stil- Opuntia spp. from the Dominican Republic into Miami ing 2002). Consequently, much of the biology, ecol- (Pemberton 1995). By 1999, C. cactorum had spread ogy, and control of the moth were summarized by northward by natural dispersal, and it was found Mahr (2001) (and articles in the same volume) and by throughout the eastern Florida coastline and as far Zimmermann et al. (2000, 2004). Ironically, this text- north as Tampa on the western coast (Hight et al. book example of successful biological control has re- 2002). By 2002, the moth was reported as far west as cently been cited as a cautionary case of the risks Pensacola in Florida and as far north as Charleston, SC, along the eastern coast (Hight et al. 2002). Most recent The use of trade, Þrm, or corporation names in this publication is published reports in July, 2004, show populations on for the information and convenience of the reader. Such use does not Dauphin Island, AL ,and in Bull Island, SC, Ϸ80 km constitute an ofÞcial endorsement or approval by the United States north of Charleston (Simonson et al. 2005). In Florida, Department of Agriculture or the Agricultural Research Service of C. cactorum attacks several species of endemic cacti, any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. 1 Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected]. including rare species such as the Florida semaphore 2 Employed by state of Florida, contact through senior author. cactus, Opuntia spinosissima (Martyn) Mill (Cactaceae) 498 ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA Vol. 100, no. 4 (Table 1. Immature development of C. cactoruma (mean ؎ SE; days Life Temp (ЊC) Statistics stage 18 22 26 30 34 Egg 47.90 Ϯ 0.28a 29.60 Ϯ 0.22b 22.50 Ϯ 0.22c 20.90 Ϯ 0.23d 22.90 Ϯ 0.35c F ϭ 1788.44; df ϭ 4, 45; P Ͻ 0.001; R2 ϭ 0.99 Larva 78.39 Ϯ 2.58a 61.36 Ϯ 2.77b 33.52 Ϯ 0.61c 29.89 Ϯ 0.80c 30.08 Ϯ 1.05c F ϭ 147.74; df ϭ 4, 45; P Ͻ 0.001; R2 ϭ 0.93 Pupa 53.46 Ϯ 1.52a 24.91 Ϯ 0.14b 16.28 Ϯ 0.51c 13.88 Ϯ 0.66c 13.79 Ϯ 0.67c F ϭ 407.76; df ϭ 4, 45; P Ͻ 0.001; R2 ϭ 0.98 Complete 179.86 Ϯ 2.92a 115.96 Ϯ 2.84b 72.22 Ϯ 0.79c 64.75 Ϯ 0.88c 67.04 Ϯ 1.65c F ϭ 587.43; df ϭ 4, 45; P Ͻ 0.001; R2 ϭ 0.98 DDb 845.34 1,008.85 917.19 1,081.32 1,387.73 a n ϭ 10; within each row, means followed by different letters are signiÞcantly different (Tukey HSD; P ϭ 0.05). b Degree-days for development from eggs to pupae, assuming a lower temperature threshold for development of 13.3ЊC. (Zimmermann et al. 2000); and the Spanish lady, Opuntia C. cactorum Immatures. For each temperature triacantha (Willd.) Sweet (Solis et al. 2004). The moth treatment, 10 newly laid cactus moth egg sticks also was recorded on other Opuntia cacti, including (Ϸ40Ð60 eggs per egg stick) were selected from the Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw., Opuntia pusilla (Haw.) laboratory colony. The egg sticks were placed indi- Nutt., Opuntia humifusa (Raf.) Raf., Opuntia cochenillif- vidually in clear 29.57 ml plastic cups (Bio-Serv, era (L.) Mill., and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller (Solis Frenchtown, NJ), together with a piece of O. ficus- et al. 2004). The westward migration of the moth is indica, covered with paper lids, and maintained at the estimated at 160 km/yr, and it projected to arrive at the assigned temperature treatment. Egg hatch was re- Texas border in 2007 (Solis et al. 2004). corded, and cohort neonates were transferred to plas- Despite its obvious threat to endemic Opuntia cacti, tic screened containers (25 by 14 by 7 cm) under the C. cactorum is perhaps not perceived as a serious prob- assigned temperatures. Fresh cactus pads served as the lem to U.S. agriculture because the cacti are grown food source. Upon pupation, individual pupae were primarily as ornamental plants in Arizona, California, placed in clear plastic cups (29.57 ml) with paper lids Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Nursery production and allowed to develop at the assigned temperature is highest in Arizona (wholesale and retail values of treatment. During immature development, body $4.5 and $9.5 million, respectively), followed by south- lengths and weights were recorded (Sartorius BP221S, ern California (Irish 2001). In contrast, Opuntia cacti Sartorius Corp., Edgewood, NY). are very important to the agriculture of Mexico and C. cactorum Adult Females. After pupal emergence, Central America (Sobero´n et al. 2001, Zimmermann et weights, and sex of newly emerged adults were re- al. 2004). Because of the high protein content in the corded. Ten newly emerged (1Ð2-d-old) females were cladodes (modiÞed stems) and high water content in placed individually into screened containers as de- the tissues, the cacti have a wide range of uses, in- scribed above. A newly emerged (1Ð2-d old) male was cluding food, fodder, cosmetics, and adhesives. More transferred into the container for mating. Adults were than 250,000 ha is cultivated in Mexico, producing 2.5% subjected to the same temperature regimes used for of value of agricultural products and economic reve- immature development. Fresh cactus pads were used nue of Ϸ$50 million annually (from 1990 to 1998) for oviposition substrates. Eggs laid were counted (Sobero´n et al. 2001, Stiling 2002). daily, transferred to plastic cups, and placed in a Information on the basic reproductive biology of C. growth chamber maintained at 30ЊC for hatching. cactorum will be essential in developing control strat- Date of hatching and percentage of egg hatch were egies in anticipation of its arrival into Texas and Mex- recorded. Eggs were collected until death of the fe- ico. Here, we report on detailed life history studies of male moth, which was recorded. C. cactorum immatures and female adults at Þve con- Life Table Calculations. Reproductive parameters stant temperatures. calculated using methods described previously (Southwood and Henderson 2000, Legaspi 2004) in- cluded net reproductive rate (R , mean number of Materials and Methods 0 female progeny produced by a single female during its Temperature Treatments. Methods used for studies mean lifetime, expressed in Ǩ/Ǩ); gross reproductive on the effects of selected temperatures on the devel- rate (GRR, in Ǩ/Ǩ); generation time (T, mean period opment of C.