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Population dynamics of Malacosoma neustria testacea (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae): Stabilizing process in a field population
Author(s) -
Shiga Masakazu
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
population ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1438-390X
pISSN - 1438-3896
DOI - 10.1007/bf02754100
Subject(s) - biology , lepidoptera genitalia , fecundity , biological dispersal , population , population density , semelparity and iteroparity , pupa , instar , ecology , larva , zoology , numerical response , functional response , predation , predator , demography , reproduction , sociology
Summary Stabilizing mechanism in population of Malacosoma neustria testacea was investigated in a central part of Japan based on eight year survey. Population fluctuation in each developmental stage in the experimental field was rather small, i.e., 5.9 times in egg and 85.0 times in female adult. Pupal weight negatively correlated with the densities of 5th instar larvae and prepupae (cocoons) and correlation coefficient was highly significant in females. Population density was stabilized by density‐dependent dispersal of female moths in preovipositional period. Comparison between fecundity of emerged moths and that of actually oviposited ones in the experimental field suggested that density‐dependent dispersal took place as the result of density‐dependent size variation, i. e., small‐sized female moths have higher flying ability. This hypothesis was supported by the experiment in which flying ability of newly emerged female moth was measured. Similar stabilizing mechanism is expected to occur in semelparous or pro‐ovigenic insects.