Open AccessDEVELOPMENT OF MEROPHYAS DIVULSANA (WALKER) (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) IN RELATION TO LUCERNE HARVESTING AS A CONTROL STRATEGY
Author(s) -
Bishop A. L.,
McKenzie H. J.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
australian journal of entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1440-6055
pISSN - 1326-6756
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1986.tb01107.x
Subject(s) - tortricidae , lepidoptera genitalia , biology , infestation , outbreak , pest analysis , agronomy , horticulture , ecology , virology
Developmental times for Merophyas divulsana are given at 15 ± 2, 20 ± 2 and 25 ± 2°C. These data were related to an experiment designed to investigate cutting of lucerne for M. divulsana control. Periods of infestation and damage approximately 5 weeks apart appeared predictable from field distribution data and this was supported by the developmental data derived at constant temperatures. It is proposed that potential outbreaks could be reduced by varying harvesting times to correspond with a 3 week period when the pest was least damaging and most susceptible to control.