Life cycle and host preferences in the Agapanthus borer (Neuranethes spodopterodes)

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dc.contributor.advisorPicker, Mikeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDabee, Vidushi Premaen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-09-30T13:24:50Z
dc.date.available2015-09-30T13:24:50Z
dc.date.issued2013en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe species Neuranethes spodopterodes is a pest of the Agapanthus species. The larva feeds gregariously on the leaves and rhizomes and cause extensive damage to the plant. This study shows the N.spodopterodes have 6 larval instars. The use of the head capsule width as a morphometric parameter and applying it to Dyar's rule gives significant results which allow for adequate determination of the larval instar. The Agapanthus borer has a life cycle that last approximately 84 days. Some species of Agapanthus are the preferred host plant for oviposition by the female N.spodopterodes. Agapanthus inapertus, Agapanthus caulescens and Agapanthus praecox are the most infested with the Agapanthus borer eggs. Leaf sizes do not appear to be a factor that influences the female choice. There appears to be no preference from the larva during feeding. The larva fed equally on all the six Agapanthus species including A. africanus (p>0.05). This shows that the chemical composition of these species is closely related. Since the larva has no feeding preference, this reinforces the fact that it is the female moth that chooses the host plant and that it abides with preference-performance hypothesis. Since A. africanus is subjected to feeding by the larva under laboratory conditions, it could potential imply that in the event of a range shift by the gravid female, that this species of plant is at risk of extinction. The presence of a parasitoid wasp, Trichogramma in the egg of N. spodopterodes and that the level of parasitism is about 86% suggests that this parasitoid could potentially be used as a biological control agent of the Agapanthus borer.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationDabee, V. P. (2013). <i>Life cycle and host preferences in the Agapanthus borer (Neuranethes spodopterodes)</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14123en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDabee, Vidushi Prema. <i>"Life cycle and host preferences in the Agapanthus borer (Neuranethes spodopterodes)."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14123en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDabee, V. 2013. Life cycle and host preferences in the Agapanthus borer (Neuranethes spodopterodes). University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Dabee, Vidushi Prema AB - The species Neuranethes spodopterodes is a pest of the Agapanthus species. The larva feeds gregariously on the leaves and rhizomes and cause extensive damage to the plant. This study shows the N.spodopterodes have 6 larval instars. The use of the head capsule width as a morphometric parameter and applying it to Dyar's rule gives significant results which allow for adequate determination of the larval instar. The Agapanthus borer has a life cycle that last approximately 84 days. Some species of Agapanthus are the preferred host plant for oviposition by the female N.spodopterodes. Agapanthus inapertus, Agapanthus caulescens and Agapanthus praecox are the most infested with the Agapanthus borer eggs. Leaf sizes do not appear to be a factor that influences the female choice. There appears to be no preference from the larva during feeding. The larva fed equally on all the six Agapanthus species including A. africanus (p>0.05). This shows that the chemical composition of these species is closely related. Since the larva has no feeding preference, this reinforces the fact that it is the female moth that chooses the host plant and that it abides with preference-performance hypothesis. Since A. africanus is subjected to feeding by the larva under laboratory conditions, it could potential imply that in the event of a range shift by the gravid female, that this species of plant is at risk of extinction. The presence of a parasitoid wasp, Trichogramma in the egg of N. spodopterodes and that the level of parasitism is about 86% suggests that this parasitoid could potentially be used as a biological control agent of the Agapanthus borer. DA - 2013 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2013 T1 - Life cycle and host preferences in the Agapanthus borer (Neuranethes spodopterodes) TI - Life cycle and host preferences in the Agapanthus borer (Neuranethes spodopterodes) UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14123 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14123
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDabee VP. Life cycle and host preferences in the Agapanthus borer (Neuranethes spodopterodes). [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Biological Sciences, 2013 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14123en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherZoologyen_ZA
dc.titleLife cycle and host preferences in the Agapanthus borer (Neuranethes spodopterodes)en_ZA
dc.typeBachelor Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelHonours
dc.type.qualificationnameBSc (Hons)en_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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