IngentaConnect Egg cannibalism in Helicoverpa armigera on sorghum and pigeonpea

Authors: Sigsgaard L.¹; Greenstone M.H.²; Duffield S.J.³

Source: BioControl, Volume 47, Number 2, April 2002 , pp. 151-165(15)

Publisher: Springer

Abstract:

Egg cannibalism by Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae was studied in the laboratory and in the field. In laboratory experiments, first instars were exposed to increasing densities of H. armigera eggs on sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, and pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. The number of eggs eaten per larva increased significantly as egg availability increased on both sorghum and pigeonpea. In small cages 21–37% of eggs were eaten on sorghum, 4–12%on pigeonpea. Plant feeding declined significantly on both sorghum and pigeonpea as egg density increased. Cannibalism was greater on sorghum than on pigeonpea while plant feeding was greater on pigeonpea than on sorghum. Only around 8% of eggs were eaten in larger cages with sorghum. The response to increasing egg availability in all experiments was linear. Immunoassay with an anti-vitellin monoclonal antibody showed that egg cannibalism occurs on pigeonpea under field conditions. Seven percent of all larvae had egg protein in their gut. Cannibalism may make a significant contribution to H. armigera population suppression.

Keywords: egg cannibalism; ELISA; Helicoverpa armigera; immunoassay; India; monoclonal antibody

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Ecology, Zoology Section, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark 2: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service Plant Science and Water Conservation Laboratory, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74075, USA 3: CSIRO Entomology, PMB 3, Griffith, NSW 2680 Australia

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