UNIV~PSITY IJC HP,\N,;I'l LIBRARY THE STINGING NETILE CATERPILLAR, DARNA PALLJV/ITA (MOORE) (LEPIDOPTERA: LIMACODIDAE) IN HA WAIl ITS CURRENT HOST RANGE, BIOLOGY AND POPULATION DYNAMICS A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAW AI'I IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENTOMOLOGY AUGUST 2006 By Christopher M. Kishimoto Thesis Committee: Arnold Hara, Chairperson Mark Wright Daniel Rubinoff Walter Nagamine We certify that we have read this thesis and that, in our opinion, it is satisfactory in scope and quality as a thesis for the degree of Master of Science in Entomology. THESIS COMMITIEE c:2.L/~- Chairperson ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To my major advisor, Dr. Arnold Hara and to my committee members Drs. Mark Wright, and Daniel Rubinoff, and Walter Nagamine, thank you very much for all of your help and guidance. Thank you to Ruth Niino-DuPonte, and Christopher Jacobsen and especially to Stacey Chun of the Beaumont Research Center. Thanks to all the Entomology graduate students for all of the assistance during this study. I would like to Patrick Conant and Clyde Hirayama of the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture - Hilo Branch for their assistance and advice. I am also grateful to the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture for allowing me to work inside of their quarantine facility, the Hawaii State Department of Health, H. Eunice Nursery, and USDA T-STAR. I would especially like to thank my parents, family, and friends for all of their help, support, and encouragement. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents .................................................................................. iv List of Tables ....................................................................................... viii List of Figures ...................................................................................... ix CHAPTER I ........................................................................................ 1 LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................... 1 1.1. Lepidoptera: Limacodidae.............................................................. I 1.2. Focus on Darna................................................................................................... 6 1.3. Darna pallivitta (Moore), The Nettle Caterpillar In Hawaii.. ..................... 9 104. Thesis Structure .......................................................................... 11 1.5. Literature Cited ........................................................................... 13 CHAPTER 2 ....................................................................................... 22 HOST RANGE TESTING OF DARNA PALLlVIITA (MOORE) (LEPIDOPTERA: LlMACODIDAE) IN HAW AIl... ....................................... 22 2.1. Abstract. ................................................................................... 22 2.2. Introduction ............................................................................... 22 2.3. Materials and Methods ................................................................... 24 Insects ................................................................................. 24 Host Range Testing .................................................................. 25 Field Observations ................................................................... 26 Data Analysis ......................................................................... 26 204. Results ..................................................................................... 27 Host Range Test...................................................................... 27 IV Field Observations ................................................................... 29 2.5. Discussion................................................................................. 29 2.6. Acknowledgements ...................................................................... 32 2.2. Literature Cited ........................................................................... 33 CHAPTER 3 ....................................................................................... 41 BIOLOGY OF DARNA PALLWITTA (MOORE) (LEPIDOPTERA: LIMACODIDAE), A RECENTLY INTRODUCED INVASIVE SPECIES IN HAWAII .........................................................................................41 3.1. Abstract .................................................................................... 41 3.2. Introduction .............................................................................. .41 3.3. Materials and Methods ................................................................. .42 Moth Activity........................................................................ .42 Male / Female Activity .............................................................. 43 Larval Height Preference In Plant Canopy....................................... 44 Data Analysis ......................................................................... 45 3.4. Results .................................................................................... .45 Moth Activity ........................................................................ .45 Male / Female Activity .............................................................. 46 Larval Height Preference In Plant Canopy....................................... 46 3.5. Discussion .................................................................................47 3.6. Acknowledgements ...................................................................... 50 3.7. Literature Cited ........................................................................... 51 CHAPTER 4 ....................................................................................... 55 WEATHER FACTORS AFFECTING THE NETTLE CATERPILLAR DARNA PALLWlTTA (MOORE) (LEPIDOPTERA: LIMACODIDAE IN HAWAII ............. 55 v 4.1. Abstract ................................................................................... 55 4.2. Introduction ............................................................................... 5S 4.3. Materials and Methods .................................................................. 56 Field Surveys ......................................................................... 56 Light Trapping ........................................................................ 58 Influence of Weather .................................................................58 Data Analysis ......................................................................... 59 4.4. Results ..................................................................................... 59 Field Surveys ......................................................................... 59 Influence of Weather on Larval Populations ..................................... 61 Adults .................................................................................. 61 Influence of Weather on Adult Populations ....................................... 62 4.5. Discussion ................................................................................. 63 4.6. Acknowledgements ...................................................................... 66 4.7. Literature Cited ........................................................................... 67 CHAPTER 5 ....................................................................................... 75 OCCURRENCE OF NATURAL ENEMIES OF DARNA PALLIVITTA (MOORE) (LEPIDOPTERA: LIMACODIDAE) IN HAWAII... ........................... 75 5.1. Abstract .................................................................................... 75 5.2. Introduction ............................................................................... 75 5.3. Materials and Methods .................................................................. 77 Sentinel Egg Surveys ................................................................ 77 Larval Field Collections ............................................................. 77 vi Koch's Postulates ..................................................................... 79 5.4. Results ..................................................................................... 81 Sentinel Egg Surveys ................................................................ 8 J Larval Field Collections ............................................................. 81 Koch's Postulates ..................................................................... 83 5.5. Discussion ................................................................................. 83 5.6. Acknowledgements ...................................................................... 86 5.7. Literature Cited........................................................................... 87 vii LIST OF TABLES 2.1 Results ofSucessful Pupation and Emergence for Host Range Testing............................................................ 36 2.2 Recorded Feeding List of D. pallivitta ......................•............ 39 4.1 Location of Larval Survey Sites and Plant Species Surveyed ......... 69 4.2 Correlations ofWaiakea Research Station Weather Data and D. pallivitta Larval and Adult Surveys .......................... 72 5.1 Location of Larval Collection Sites, Larvae Collected, and Results ............................................................... 89 5.2 Positive Trichogramma papilionis Sentinel Surveys .................. 89 5.3