Nysius Huttoni (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae): Life History and Some Aspects of Its Biology and Ecology in Relation to Wing Development and Flight
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Nysius huttoni (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae): life history and some aspects of its biology and ecology in relation to wing development and flight A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology in the University of Canterbury New Zealand by Wei Yong Jiang University of Canterbury June 2001 (~L 5 ,L:1 ,WflS \ Nysius huttoni White 1878 (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) 23 MAY ZaG2 Table of Contents Table of Contents List of Tables ..............................................................................................vi List of Figures ............................................................................................ xi Acknowledgements ................................................................................ xiii Abstract ....................................................................................................... xv Chapter 1: General Introduction and Literature Review ............. 1 1.1 Damage of N. huttoni to crops and economic importance .................. 1 1.1.1 Damage to wheat ........................................................................... 1 1.1.2 Damage to other plants ................................................................. .4 1.2 Biology and ecology of N. huttoni ......................................................... 5 1.3 Number of generations per season ....................................................... 5 1.4 Polymorphism of N. huttoni ................................................................... 6 1.4.1 Wing polymorphism ........................................................................ 6 1.4.2 Body size polymorphism ................................................................ 6 1.5 Objectives and aims of my research ..................................................... 7 Chapter 2: Habitats and Host Plants of N. huttoni ...................... 12 2.1 Introduction ......................................................... .- .................................. 12 2.2 Materials and methods ......................................................................... 15 2.3 Results and discussion ........................................................................ 16 2.3.1 Habitats ........................................................................................ 16 2.3.2 Host plants ................................................................................... 17 Chapter 3: Effect of Temperature and Photoperiod on Development of N. huttoni.. ..................................... 21 Table of Contents ii 3.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................21 3.2 Materials and methods .........................................................................22 3.3 Results and discussion ........................................................................27 3.3.1 Hatching of eggs .......................................................................... 27 3.3.2 Development of eggs and nymphs ............................................... 30 3.3.3 Mortality of nymphs ...................................................................... 4 7 3.3.4 Threshold temperature and thermal constant of N. huttoni .......... 50 3.3.5 Number of instars in N. huttoni ..................................................... 54 3.3.6 Adult longevity .............................................................................. 68 3.3.7 Fecundity and oviposition activities .............................................. 75 Chapter 4: Life History and Some Aspects of Biology and Ecology of N. huttoni .............................................. 83 4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 83 4.2 Materials and methods ......................................................................... 85 4.2.1 Overwintering survey ......................... ~ ......................................... 85 4.2.2 Number of generations per year .................................................. 85 4.2.3 Seasonal copulation activities in the field ..................................... 87 4.2.4 Seasonal oviposition activities in the field .................................... 87 4.2.5 Sex ratio ....................................................................................... 88 4.2.6 One copulation fertilises a female for life ..................................... 89 4.2.7 Parthenogenesis .......................................................................... 89 4.2.8 Seasonal variations in population density ............. : ...................... 89 4.3 Results and discussion ........................................................................ 90 4.3.1 Overwintering survey ................................................................... 90 4.3.2 Number of generations per year .................................................. 92 4.3.3 Seasonal copulation activities in the field ................................... 104 4.3.4 Seasonal oviposition activities in the field .................................. 107 4.3.5 Sex ratio ..................................................................................... 112 4.3.6 One copulation fertilises a female for life ................................... 121 Table of Contents iii 4.3.7 Parthenogenesis ........................................................................ 126 4.3.8 Seasonal variations in population density .................................. 126 Chapter 5: Tolerance of Adults to Starvation and Effect of Glucose and Water on Adult Longevity ............. 130 5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 130 5.2 Materials and methods ....................................................................... 132 5.3 Results ................................................................................................. 133 5.4 Discussion ........................................................................................... 137 Chapter 6: Habits of N. huttoni......................................................... 145 6.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 145 6.2 Cannibalism on eggs .......................................................................... 146 6.2.1 Materials and methods ............................................................... 146 6.2.2 Results and discussion .............................................................. 147 6.3 Phototaxis ............................................................................................ 152 6.3.1 Materials and methods ............................................................... 152 6.3.2 Results and discussion .............................................................. 152 6.4 Letisimulation, aggregation, and female-dragging movement on copulation .................................................................... 154 6.4.1 Letisimulation ............................................................................. 154 6.4.2 Female-dragging movement on copulation ................................ 155 6.4.3 Aggregation characteristics ........................................................ 156 Chapter 7: Wing Polymorphism and Flight in N. huttoni ........ 158 7.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 158 7.2 Materials and methods ....................................................................... 160 Table of Contents iv 7.2.1 Wing polymorphism .................................................................... 160 7.2.2 Flight .......................................................................................... 161 7.3 Results ................................................................................................. 163 7.3.1 Wing polymorphism .................................................................... 163 7.3.2 Flight .......................................................................................... 177 7.4 Discussion ........................................................................................... 182 7.4.1 Wing polymorphism .................................................................... 182 7.4.2 Flight .......................................................................................... 190 Chapter 8: Reproductive Diapause in N. huttoni ....................... 196 8.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 196 8.2 Materials and methods ....................................................................... 197 8.2.1 Field observations on the natural induction of diapause ............ 197 8.2.2 Examination of developmental state of female adults by dissection ................................................................................... 197 8.2.3 Artificial breaking of reproductive diapause by high temperature and long daylight.. ................................................. 198 8.2.4 Effect of temperature and photoperiod on reproductive diapause .................................................................................... 198 8.3 Results .................................................................................................199 8.3.1 Field observations on the natural induction of diapause ............ 199 8.3.2 Examination of developmental state of female adults by dissection ......................................