Journal articles on the topic 'Caterpillars'
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1
Bourne, Mitchel E., Gabriele Gloder, Berhane T. Weldegergis, Marijn Slingerland, Andrea Ceribelli, Sam Crauwels, Bart Lievens, Hans Jacquemyn, Marcel Dicke, and Erik H. Poelman. "Parasitism causes changes in caterpillar odours and associated bacterial communities with consequences for host-location by a hyperparasitoid." PLOS Pathogens 19, no. 3 (March 22, 2023): e1011262. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1011262.
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Microorganisms living in and on macroorganisms may produce microbial volatile compounds (mVOCs) that characterise organismal odours. The mVOCs might thereby provide a reliable cue to carnivorous enemies in locating their host or prey. Parasitism by parasitoid wasps might alter the microbiome of their caterpillar host, affecting organismal odours and interactions with insects of higher trophic levels such as hyperparasitoids. Hyperparasitoids parasitise larvae or pupae of parasitoids, which are often concealed or inconspicuous. Odours of parasitised caterpillars aid them to locate their host, but the origin of these odours and its relationship to the caterpillar microbiome are unknown. Here, we analysed the odours and microbiome of the large cabbage white caterpillar Pieris brassicae in relation to parasitism by its endoparasitoid Cotesia glomerata. We identified how bacterial presence in and on the caterpillars is correlated with caterpillar odours and tested the attractiveness of parasitised and unparasitised caterpillars to the hyperparasitoid Baryscapus galactopus. We manipulated the presence of the external microbiome and the transient internal microbiome of caterpillars to identify the microbial origin of odours. We found that parasitism by C. glomerata led to the production of five characteristic volatile products and significantly affected the internal and external microbiome of the caterpillar, which were both found to have a significant correlation with caterpillar odours. The preference of the hyperparasitoid was correlated with the presence of the external microbiome. Likely, the changes in external microbiome and body odour after parasitism were driven by the resident internal microbiome of caterpillars, where the bacterium Wolbachia sp. was only present after parasitism. Micro-injection of Wolbachia in unparasitised caterpillars increased hyperparasitoid attraction to the caterpillars compared to untreated caterpillars, while no differences were found compared to parasitised caterpillars. In conclusion, our results indicate that host-parasite interactions can affect multi-trophic interactions and hyperparasitoid olfaction through alterations of the microbiome.
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Witwicka, Alicja, Danuta Frydryszak, Andrzej Antoł, and Marcin Czarnoleski. "Effects of habitat, leaf damage and leaf rolling on the predation risk of caterpillars in the tropical rain forest of Borneo." Journal of Tropical Ecology 35, no. 5 (July 11, 2019): 251–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467419000191.
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AbstractAddressing what affects predation among caterpillars, we conducted an experiment in a Bornean rain forest on 212 clay models of Tortricidae caterpillars (the herbivore) and 53 trees of Kopsia pauciflora (the host), located either in the open or under closed canopies. We predicted that the frequency of predatory attacks towards caterpillars increases (1) in canopy gaps and (2) on leaves damaged by herbivory, but (3) decreases among caterpillars that wrap their body in leaves. Each plant with caterpillar models was consecutively allocated to one of four treatments: caterpillars artificially rolled in leaves vs caterpillars on unrolled leaves, and caterpillars on artificially damaged vs undamaged leaves. Each time, caterpillar models were placed on the plants for 48 h, and then replaced with new models that were subjected to a new treatment. On average, our caterpillar models had a 21% chance of being attacked per 24 h. More attacks were performed by insects (81.6%) than birds. The attack frequency did not depend on the canopy cover or on leaf damage, but decreased among models rolled in leaves. This pattern was mainly attributable to insect attacks, which were also more frequent than bird attacks. Overall, the Tortricidae caterpillars seem to suffer comparable predation rates in the open and under closed canopies irrespective of the herbivory damage of leaves, but their leaf-rolling behaviour might reduce predation.
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Nikolov, Georgi, Yana Kandova, Bogdan Petrunov, Plamen Mirchev, and Georgi Georgiev. "Skin reactions to allergens from processionary caterpillars (genus Thaumetopoea)." PROBLEMS of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases 48, no. 2 (October 15, 2020): 15–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.58395/pipd.v48i2.34.
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Background: Moths of the genus Thaumetopoea are widespread pests in the coniferous and deciduous forests in Bulgaria. Contact with the caterpillars, larval form of different Thaumetopoea species, causes a series of complaints in humans: mainly contact dermatitis (erucism), but also IgE-mediated allergic reactions.
The aim of the present pilot study is to investigate the skin reaction after prick tests with allergens from different Thaumetopoea species in a group of people who have frequent contacts with the processionary caterpillars.
Material and methods: A group of 42 subjects were surveyed - 37 men and 5 women between the ages of 18 and 87. Specific sensitization to caterpillars of three Thaumetopoea species: Thaumetopoea pityocampa (pine processionary); Thaumetopoea processionea (oak processionary) and Thaumetopoea solitaria (pistachio processionary) was assessed by allergy skin prick tests (SPT) with specially designed caterpillar allergens.
Results: Positive allergy skin tests to one or more caterpillar’s allergens were measured in 18 (43%) participants. A simultaneous test with the three allergens from the different Thaumetopoea species showed that in 5 (31%) of the cases, skin hypersensitivity only to allergen from T. pityocampa was present. Monosensitization to T. processionea observed in 2 (12%). The rest 9 (57%) participants with positive skin test show different profiles of polysensitization to Thaumetopoea allergens under study.
Conclusions: The evaluation of skin reactivity after SPT with different caterpillar’s allergens outlined the important role of processionary allergens, especially this from T. pityocampa, in the development of IgE-mediated allergic complaints in different groups of forestry professionals. In view of these results, it seems that IgE-mediated hypersensitivity allergic reactions to Thaumetopoea caterpillars are at least as important as those with no allergic mechanism.
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Hammer, Tobin J., Daniel H. Janzen, Winnie Hallwachs, Samuel P. Jaffe, and Noah Fierer. "Caterpillars lack a resident gut microbiome." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114, no. 36 (August 22, 2017): 9641–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1707186114.
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Many animals are inhabited by microbial symbionts that influence their hosts’ development, physiology, ecological interactions, and evolutionary diversification. However, firm evidence for the existence and functional importance of resident microbiomes in larval Lepidoptera (caterpillars) is lacking, despite the fact that these insects are enormously diverse, major agricultural pests, and dominant herbivores in many ecosystems. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative PCR, we characterized the gut microbiomes of wild leaf-feeding caterpillars in the United States and Costa Rica, representing 124 species from 15 families. Compared with other insects and vertebrates assayed using the same methods, the microbes that we detected in caterpillar guts were unusually low-density and variable among individuals. Furthermore, the abundance and composition of leaf-associated microbes were reflected in the feces of caterpillars consuming the same plants. Thus, microbes ingested with food are present (although possibly dead or dormant) in the caterpillar gut, but host-specific, resident symbionts are largely absent. To test whether transient microbes might still contribute to feeding and development, we conducted an experiment on field-collected caterpillars of the model speciesManduca sexta. Antibiotic suppression of gut bacterial activity did not significantly affect caterpillar weight gain, development, or survival. The high pH, simple gut structure, and fast transit times that typify caterpillar digestive physiology may prevent microbial colonization. Moreover, host-encoded digestive and detoxification mechanisms likely render microbes unnecessary for caterpillar herbivory. Caterpillars illustrate the potential ecological and evolutionary benefits of independence from symbionts, a lifestyle that may be widespread among animals.
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Connahs, Heidi, Annette Aiello, Sunshine Van Bael, and Genoveva Rodríguez-Castañeda. "Caterpillar abundance and parasitism in a seasonally dry versus wet tropical forest of Panama." Journal of Tropical Ecology 27, no. 1 (December 17, 2010): 51–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0266467410000568.
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Abstract:Rainfall seasonality can strongly influence biotic interactions by affecting host plant quality, and thus potentially regulating herbivore exposure to natural enemies. Plant defences are predicted to increase from dry to wet forests, rendering wet-forest caterpillars more vulnerable to parasitoids due to the slow-growth-high-mortality hypothesis. We collected and reared caterpillars from the understorey and trail edges of a wet forest and a seasonally dry forest to determine whether wet-forest caterpillars suffered a higher prevalence of parasitism and were less abundant than dry-forest caterpillars. In the two forests, caterpillar abundances (on average 8 h−1) and prevalence of parasitism (18%) were very similar regardless of feeding niche for both parasitism (27% versus 29% in shelter builders, and 16% versus 11% in external feeders) and caterpillar abundances (shelter builders: 1.42 versus 2.39, and external feeders: 8.27 versus 5.49 caterpillars h−1) in the dry and wet forests, respectively. A similar comparative analysis conducted in the canopy and understorey of the dry forest revealed a higher prevalence of parasitism in the canopy (43%) despite caterpillar densities similar to those in the understorey. Overall, shelter builders suffered higher parasitism than external feeders (32% versus 14.9%), and were attacked primarily by flies, whereas external feeders were more vulnerable to attack by parasitoid wasps.
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Amo, Luisa, Marcel Dicke, and Marcel E. Visser. "Are naïve birds attracted to herbivore-induced plant defences?" Behaviour 153, no. 3 (2016): 353–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-00003345.
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Arthropod herbivory induces the emission of plant volatiles that can be used by natural enemies of the herbivores to find their prey. Recently it has been shown that insectivorous birds also use these volatiles to locate their prey. Results of a previous study showed that birds with experience in foraging for caterpillars in trees were able to discriminate between caterpillar-infested and uninfested trees, even in the absence of caterpillars or their damage on leaves. Here, we tested whether the attraction to caterpillar-infested trees is exhibited in birds naïve with respect to finding caterpillars on trees. Results show that naïve great tits (Parus major) were not attracted to infested trees, when they could not see the larvae or their feeding damage. Naïve birds cannot discriminate between caterpillar-infested and uninfested trees. Therefore, the attraction to caterpillar-infested trees does not seem to be innate in great tits, and may be acquired through learning.
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Dussourd, David E. "Salivary surprise: Symmerista caterpillars anoint petioles with red saliva after clipping leaves." PLOS ONE 17, no. 3 (March 16, 2022): e0265490. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265490.
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After feeding on a tree leaf, caterpillars in ten families sever the petiole and allow the remaining leaf fragment to fall to the ground. Previous researchers proposed that the caterpillars thereby reduced bird predation by eliminating visual evidence of feeding. In this study, 26 species of caterpillars in five families were filmed clipping leaves. Caterpillar behavior did not conform to the visual cue hypothesis. Some caterpillars clipped midribs and petioles repeatedly even though a single clip would suffice to reduce visual cues for birds. Every caterpillar that clipped a leaf rubbed its spinneret (which secretes saliva from the labial glands) over the petiole or midrib stub. In the notodontids Symmerista albifrons and S. leucitys, petiole stubs were bathed in red fluid. Cauterizing the spinneret eliminated fluid application. Dissections documented that the anterior portion of their labial glands contained red pigment, thereby confirming that the red secretion is saliva. When applied to petiole stubs, the red pigment in Symmerista saliva travelled several mm in five minutes within the petiole xylem demonstrating the potential for rapid movement of salivary constituents into the plant. In diverse caterpillars, including species that clip leaves, saliva contains substances reported to suppress plant defenses. Thus, leaf clipping likely functions primarily not to remove visual cues, but to introduce salivary constituents into the plant that prevent defenses from being mobilized in nearby leaves where the caterpillar feeds next.
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Myers, Judith H. "EXPERIMENTAL MANIPULATION OF THE PHENOLOGY OF EGG HATCH IN CYCLIC POPULATIONS OF TENT CATERPILLARS." Canadian Entomologist 124, no. 4 (August 1992): 737–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/ent124737-4.
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AbstractEggs of western tent caterpillars hatch just as leaves of their food plants are developing. To determine the impact of asynchrony between leaf development and egg hatch during a year of peak density and the initiation of decline, egg masses were introduced to four study areas after the time of normal egg hatching. Survival of caterpillars was not significantly influenced by delays of 3–6 weeks in hatching. Populations composed primarily of introduced insects and control populations declined following the summer of the experiment. Although hatching of deployed eggs was delayed, caterpillar development during warmer temperatures later in the spring was sufficiently rapid that caterpillars from all groups reached the fifth instar by mid-June, and parasitization of caterpillars from control and experimental areas was similar. Tent caterpillar survival was apparently resilient to substantial delays in egg hatch which suggests that cyclic population declines are not likely to be associated with minor variation in the synchrony of leaf development and egg hatch.
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Fitzgerald, T. D., and F. X. Webster. "Identification and behavioral assays of the trail pheromone of the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hübner (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)." Canadian Journal of Zoology 71, no. 8 (August 1, 1993): 1511–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z93-213.
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Behavioral assays show that the steroid 5β-cholestan-3-one, isolated from the abdomen of the larva of the forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), constitutes the chemical basis of trail following in this insect. Caterpillars follow artificial trails prepared from solvent dilutions of the compound at rates as low as 10−11 g∙mm−11 of trail, though the true threshold sensitivity is likely to be one or two orders of magnitude lower than this. Fourth-instar caterpillars store an average of 58 ng of the pheromone. Field and laboratory studies indicate that the compound is fully competitive with their authentic trails. The caterpillars are highly sensitive to differences in the concentration of the pheromone, preferring stronger trails to weaker trails. The caterpillars also respond to 5β-cholestane-3,24-dione, a chemical not found in M. disstria but known to be a component of the trail pheromone of the eastern tent caterpillar, Malacosoma americanum.
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Greyson-Gaito, Christopher J., Matthew A. Barbour, Mariano A. Rodriguez-Cabal, Gregory M. Crutsinger, and Gregory H. R. Henry. "Freedom to move: Arctic caterpillar (Lepidoptera) growth rate increases with access to new willows (Salicaceae)." Canadian Entomologist 148, no. 6 (April 29, 2016): 673–82. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/tce.2016.22.
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AbstractMovement between host plants during the growing season is a common behaviour among insect herbivores, although the mechanisms promoting these movements are poorly understood for many systems. Two possible reasons why insect herbivores relocate include compensating for host plant quantity and/or quality changes and the avoidance of natural enemies. The Arctic caterpillar (Gynaephora groenlandica (Wocke); Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) moves several metres each day, feeds on its patchily distributed host plant, Arctic willow (Salix arctica Pallas; Salicaceae), and has two main natural enemies, the parasitoids Exorista thula Wood (Diptera: Tachinidae) and Hyposoter diechmanni (Nielsen) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). We physically moved caterpillars between Arctic willows and restricted other caterpillar individuals each to a single willow throughout the active period of Arctic caterpillars. We found that growth rate, herbivory rate, and the proportion of available leaf fascicles eaten were higher for experimentally moved caterpillars. Parasitoid abundances were low and did not differ between experimentally moved and stationary caterpillars. Taken together, our study addresses the bottom–up and top–down controls on insect herbivore movement during the short duration of the growing season in the Arctic. Our results suggest that caterpillars are likely moving to new willow shrubs to access high quality resources.
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Awan, MS. "Anti-Predator Ploys of Heliothis Punctiger (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Caterpillars Against the Predator Oechalia Schellenbergii (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)." Australian Journal of Zoology 33, no. 6 (1985): 885. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo9850885.
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The escape responses of Heliothis punctiger Wallengren caterpillars to the attacks of juveniles and adults of Oechalia schellenbergii Guerin-Meneville were studied in the laboratory. Caterpillars avoided capture by head waving, dropping off the plant, ceasing movement, biting, rolling over, oral spitting and tail wagging. These responses occurred either individually or in unison. Smaller caterpillars tended to drop off the plant; larger ones defended themselves by aggressive retaliation, the value of which as a defence ploy increased with the size of the caterpillar relative to its predator. Larger caterpillars (fourth instars) were immune to predation by juveniles of O. schellenbergii and fifth instars to all stages of the predator.
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Katana, John Juma, Reuben Oyoo Mosi, and Helida Oyieke. "Exploring Phenotypic Characteristics of Edible Caterpillars and Indigenous Knowledge of Host Plants in the Coastal Forest Ecosystems for Improved Food Security." East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology 7, no. 1 (March 14, 2024): 148–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.37284/eajab.7.1.1825.
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Edible caterpillars have nutritional and economic value, thus providing food security at the household level during their harvesting seasons. Despite the significant value of these insects, they are harvested seasonally, and there is little or no documented research about the edible caterpillar species and their phenotypic characteristics, their host plants, and the effects of ecosystem utilization on the insects. This study explored the phenotypic characteristics of edible caterpillars and the indigenous knowledge of their host plants in selected coastal forest ecosystems, aiming to contribute to the improvement of food security. The study adopted a cross-sectional observational study design, involving data collection on caterpillar phenotypic characteristics and interviewing local communities on host plant preferences. One-way ANOVA was used to test for significant differences in phenotypic characteristics (body weight, body length, and body girth) among the four caterpillar species. The Chi-Square test was used to examine the association between caterpillar species and their preferred host plants. The findings show that the region is dominated by four edible species of caterpillars: Bunea alcinoe, Gonimbrasia zambezina, Gynanisa maja, and Menipe spp. These caterpillar species have distinct and discernible differences in their phenotypic characteristics, specifically in terms of body weight, body length, body girth, body color, as well as body texture with a significance level of 0.000. These variations in physical traits suggest that each species has evolved unique adaptations to their respective environments and may have different ecological roles within their habitats. These species also have varying preferences for different host plants, making each species unique. The preferred host plant species supporting the caterpillars were: Balanites wilsoniana for B. alcinoe, Mangifera indica for G. zambezina, Acacia gourmaensis for G. maja, and Ochna mossambicensis for Menipe spp. The study revealed significant associations between caterpillar species and their preferred host plants, indicating that the local community possesses specific indigenous knowledge regarding the preferred host plants for edible caterpillars in the study area
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Payne, Charlotte L. R., Athanase Badolo, Sioned Cox, Bakary Sagnon, Darja Dobermann, Charlotte Milbank, Pete Scarborough, Antoine Sanon, Fernand Bationo, and Andrew Balmford. "The contribution of ‘chitoumou’, the edible caterpillar Cirina butyrospermi, to the food security of smallholder farmers in southwestern Burkina Faso." Food Security 12, no. 1 (December 6, 2019): 221–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12571-019-00994-z.
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AbstractEdible insects have been advocated as a means to combat food insecurity, which is prevalent in West Africa. In this study we look at the contribution of the shea caterpillar Cirina butyrospermi, colloquially known as ‘chitoumou’, to the food security of smallholder households in rural southwestern Burkina Faso. We used a mixed methods approach to understand the relationship between caterpillar collection, consumption, and sale by smallholder households, and their seasonal food security status. We found that caterpillars are an important source of food and income for households, significantly increasing the household consumption of animal protein and, with shea nuts, representing the main income source for the majority of women. We also found that food security is higher during caterpillar season, and that household-level food security during this season can be predicted by the amount of caterpillars collected, consumed and sold. However, this relationship holds only during the caterpillar season, suggesting that the positive impact of caterpillars on food security is temporally limited. We conclude that the shea caterpillar is an example of an edible insect that is crucial for seasonal food security in a widespread agricultural system.
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Nababan, One May Sunday, Sartini Sartini, and Riyanto Riyanto. "Uji Efektivitas Cendawan Metarhizium anisopliae Terhadap Daya Bunuh Instar 2 Dan Instar 4 Larva Ulat Spodoptera Litura Pada Tanaman Sawi Hijau (Brassica juncea L.) Di Laboratorium." Jurnal Ilmiah Biologi UMA (JIBIOMA) 2, no. 1 (May 28, 2020): 13–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.31289/jibioma.v2i1.184.
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Pests are one of the factors that reduce the production and quality of cultivated plants, for example grayak caterpillars (Spodoptera litura) which attack mustard plants. Grayak caterpillars (Spodoptera litura) can be controlled using chemical compounds (insecticides), can be manually collected by hand and can also be biologically controlled, for example with mushrooms. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae on Spodoptera litura caterpillar larvae in green mustard plants (Brassica juncea L.). The caterpillar used in this study is the Instar-2 (I₁) and Instar-4 (I₂) phase caterpillars. The concentration of fungi was inoculated were 10-2 (M₁), 10 -4 (M₂), and 10 -6 (M₃), and without fungi as a control (M₀). The design used was Factorial RAL with 3 replications. The experimental results showed that spore density M₁, M₂, and M₃ were quite effective at killing the caterpillar both on instar-2 (I₁) and on instar-4 (I₂
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Abreu, Nair, Oscar Rojo, and Claudia Justel. "Algebraic connectivity for subclasses of caterpillars." Applicable Analysis and Discrete Mathematics 4, no. 1 (2010): 181–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/aadm1000004a.
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A caterpillar is a tree in which the removal of all pendent vertices make it a path. In this paper, we consider two classes of caterpillars. We present an ordering of caterpillars by algebraic connectivity in one of them and find one that maximizes the algebraic connectivity in the other class.
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Scherrer, S., IR Diniz, and HC Morais. "Climate and host plant characteristics effects on lepidopteran caterpillar abundance on Miconia ferruginata DC. and Miconia pohliana Cogn (Melastomataceae)." Brazilian Journal of Biology 70, no. 1 (February 2010): 103–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1519-69842010000100014.
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Folivore cerrado caterpillars are found on their host species in low frequencies, which vary between plants and throughout the year. We analysed the effects of climatic variation and of the characteristics of two host species (Miconia, Melastomataceae) on caterpillar abundance. The work was carried out in a cerrado sensu stricto area in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil, from May 1998 to September 1999. One hundred plants of each species were inspected monthly. All caterpillars found were collected and raised in the laboratory with Miconia leaves as food sources. Climatic data for the study area and plant characteristics such as local density, spatial distribution, foliar phenology, leaf pilosity and nutritional content were used to test the effects on caterpillar abundance. Less than 10% of the plants had larvae. Caterpillars were more frequent and abundant in M. pohliana, which was also present at higher densities than M. ferruginata. Low caterpillar frequency in host plants and an abundance peak during the dry season are consistent patterns for different cerrado Lepidoptera larvae. This abundance peak, however, is not coincident with higher leaf production in host species. We suggest that M. pohliana's higher local density and better leaf digestibility can account for the higher abundance of caterpillars in this species.
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Mfula, Sally Chanda, Dennis Otieno, and Alfred Matafwali Sichilima. "Promoting Ecosystem Conservation and Food Security through Sustainable Harvesting of Edible Caterpillars in Kanchibiya District, Zambia." East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology 7, no. 1 (April 30, 2024): 216–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.37284/eajab.7.1.1902.
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Insects play a vital role in enhancing food security and improving the livelihoods of rural communities. This study focused on the identification of caterpillar harvesting practices in Zambia, particularly in Chief Kopa’s village, Kanchibiya District, Muchinga Province, where the caterpillars of Gynisa maja and Gonimbrasia belina play a crucial role in food security. A mixed-methods approach was employed, utilizing face-to-face interviews and self-administered questionnaires to capture both qualitative and quantitative insights. Quantitative data, including caterpillar harvesting amounts and correlations with tree destruction, underwent statistical analyses, including ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey's HSD tests. The Chi-square test explored gender distribution across research sites. Qualitative data from open-ended questions during interviews underwent thematic analysis. The study sampled 100 respondents from six areas, and the results revealed significant differences in caterpillar harvesting amounts among villages. Post-hoc tests identified specific pairwise differences. The findings indicated that traditional harvesting methods persisted, with limited adherence to rules. A significant positive correlation was observed between caterpillar harvesting practices and evolving trends such as increased harvesting intensity, changes in harvesting methods, and environmental impact and tree destruction (p=0.001, r=0.917). The study contributed valuable insights into past caterpillar harvesting practices, proposing conservation strategies for enhanced food security and sustainability. The study proposes a multifaceted approach to balance ecosystem conservation with food security in Kanhaiya District, emphasizing the importance of sustainable caterpillar harvesting. Recommendations include developing community-based sustainable harvesting guidelines, such as rotational zones and harvest limits, alongside education programs to raise ecological awareness. It advocates for diversifying livelihoods and food sources to lessen dependence on caterpillars, ensuring gender-inclusive participation in these initiatives. Monitoring and further research are essential to adapt strategies effectively. These measures aim to preserve the ecosystem, ensuring the caterpillar's role in food security and offering socioeconomic benefits by fostering community resilience and reducing food insecurity vulnerabilities
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Nielsen, Matthew E., and Johanna Mappes. "Out in the open: behavior’s effect on predation risk and thermoregulation by aposematic caterpillars." Behavioral Ecology 31, no. 4 (May 20, 2020): 1031–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/araa048.
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Abstract Warning coloration should be under strong stabilizing selection but often displays considerable intraspecific variation. Opposing selection on color by predators and temperature is one potential explanation for this seeming paradox. Despite the importance of behavior for both predator avoidance and thermoregulation, its role in mediating selection by predators and temperature on warning coloration has received little attention. Wood tiger moth caterpillars, Arctia plantaginis, have aposematic coloration, an orange patch on the black body. The size of the orange patch varies considerably: individuals with larger patches are safer from predators, but having a small patch is beneficial in cool environments. We investigated microhabitat preference by these caterpillars and how it interacted with their coloration. We expected caterpillar behavior to reflect a balance between spending time exposed to maximize basking and spending time concealed to avoid detection by predators. Instead, we found that caterpillars preferred exposed locations regardless of their coloration. Whether caterpillars were exposed or concealed had a strong effect on both temperature and predation risk, but caterpillars in exposed locations were both much warmer and less likely to be attacked by a bird predator (great tits, Parus major). This shared optimum may explain why we observed so little variation in caterpillar behavior and demonstrates the important effects of behavior on multiple functions of coloration.
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DINIZ, I. R., H. C. MORAIS, A. M. F. BOTELHO, F. VENTUROLI, and B. C. CABRAL. "Lepidopteran caterpillar fauna on lactiferous host plants in the central Brazilian cerrado." Revista Brasileira de Biologia 59, no. 4 (November 1999): 627–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s0034-71081999000400012.
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Nine lactiferous plants of five families were examined for caterpillars in a 4 ha cerrado sensu stricto (savanna-like vegetation) area of the University of Brasília Experimental Farm (DF, Brazil), from August 1995 to May 1997. In 5,540 censuses, less than 5% of the plants hosted caterpillars. All the caterpillars found, a total of 55 species in 15 families were reared under laboratory conditions. Pyralidae, Geometridae, Elachistidae, Megalopygidae, and Limacodidae were the richest caterpillar families recorded. Of the 55 species, more than 40% were polyphagous, feeding on different host plant families, while 21 were considered rare species with less than four records during the study period. The species' rareness did not permit any analysis of diet breadth. The presence of latex in the host plants seems to affect both the proportion of host plants with caterpillars (abundance) and the caterpillar species richness. The habit of eating plants that characteristically produce latex occurs in several distantly-related lepidopteran families. The results support the argument that specific behaviors to circumvent plant latex defense may have arisen independently many times in the Lepidoptera.
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Nishida, Kenji, and Robert K. Robbins. "One side makes you taller: a mushroom–eating butterfly caterpillar (Lycaenidae) in Costa Rica." Neotropical Biology and Conservation 15, no. 4 (November 11, 2020): 463–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.15.e57998.
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Electrostrymon denarius is the first mushroom-feeding butterfly caterpillar discovered in the New World. It belongs to the Calycopidina, a subtribe of lycaenid butterflies whose caterpillars eat detritus and seeds in the leaf litter. Electrostrymon denarius has not been reared previously, and we illustrate and briefly describe the biology and morphology of its caterpillar and pupa. The significance of this discovery is that it increases the range of organic leaf litter substrates that Calycopidina caterpillars will eat. Increased diet breadth may decrease the likelihood of species extinction.
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Low, Petah A., Clare McArthur, and Dieter F. Hochuli. "Head capsule stacking by caterpillars: morphology complements behaviour to provide a novel defence." PeerJ 4 (February 29, 2016): e1714. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1714.
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Herbivores employ a variety of chemical, behavioural and morphological defences to reduce mortality from natural enemies. In some caterpillars the head capsules of successive instars are retained and stacked on top of each other and it has been suggested that this could serve as a defence against natural enemies. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the survival of groups of the gumleaf skeletoniserUraba lugensWalker caterpillars, allocated to one of three treatments: “−HC,” where stacked head capsules were removed from all individuals, “+HC,” where the caterpillars retained their stacked head capsules, and “mixed,” where only half of the caterpillars in a group had their stacked head capsules removed. We found no difference in predation rate between the three treatments, but within the mixed treatment, caterpillars with head capsules were more than twice as likely to survive. During predator choice trials, conducted to observe how head capsule stacking acts as a defence, the predatory pentatomid bug attacked the −HC caterpillar in four out of six trials. The two attacks on +HC caterpillars took over 10 times longer because the bug would poke its rostrum through the head capsule stack, while the caterpillar used its head capsule stack to deflect the bug’s rostrum. Our results support the hypothesis that the retention of moulted head capsules byU. lugensprovides some protection against their natural enemies and suggest that this is because stacked head capsules can function as a false target for natural enemies as well as a weapon to fend off attackers. This represents the first demonstration of a defensive function.
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Chuang, Wen-Po, Swayamjit Ray, Flor Edith Acevedo, Michelle Peiffer, Gary W. Felton, and Dawn S. Luthe. "Herbivore Cues from the Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) Larvae Trigger Direct Defenses in Maize." Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions® 27, no. 5 (May 2014): 461–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/mpmi-07-13-0193-r.
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In addition to feeding damage, herbivores release cues that are recognized by plants to elicit defenses. Caterpillar oral secretions have been shown to trigger herbivore defense responses in several different plant species. In this study, the effects of two fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) oral secretions (saliva and regurgitant) on caterpillar defense responses in maize (Zea mays) were examined. Only minute amounts of regurgitant were deposited on the maize leaf during larval feeding bouts and its application to leaves failed to induce the expression of several herbivore defense genes. On the other hand, caterpillars consistently deposited saliva on leaves during feeding and the expression of several maize defense genes significantly increased in response to saliva application and larval feeding. However, feeding by ablated caterpillars with impaired salivation did not induce these defenses. Furthermore, bioassays indicated that feeding by unablated caterpillars significantly enhanced defenses when compared with that of ablated caterpillars. Another critical finding was that the maize genotype and stage of development affected the expression of defense genes in response to wounding and regurgitant treatments. These results demonstrate that fall armyworm saliva contains elicitors that trigger herbivore defenses in maize.
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Rodovalho, Sheila Rodrigues, Raúl Alberto Laumann, and Ivone Rezende Diniz. "Ecological aspects of lepidopteran caterpillar parasitoids from Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Caryocaraceae) in a cerrado sensu stricto of Central Brazil." Biota Neotropica 7, no. 3 (2007): 239–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/s1676-06032007000300026.
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This study quantified parasitoid occurrence on five lepidopteran caterpillars species that use Caryocar brasiliense as host plant, trying to verify if there was a direct relationship between host abundance and the proportion of parasitism; if leaf shelters served as cues or protection from parasitoids; if host size influenced the proportion of parasitism, and if attacks by Diptera were more frequent than by Hymenoptera. Searches for external folivorous caterpillars were carried out in an area of cerrado sensu stricto, from July/2003 to June/2004. Caterpillars were more parasitized when occurred on mature leaves. Nola sp. (Noctuiidae) had the highest proportion of parasitism and a negative correlation between their body size and parasitoid attack. Caterpillars that constructed shelters suffered lower parasitism than those exposed. Hymenopteran parasitoids were more abundant than Dipteran parasitoids attacking caterpillars on C. brasiliense leaves. In general, parasitoid species richness and the proportion of parasitism in lepidopteran caterpillar on C. brasiliense showed associations with host population density, their life strategy, diet and leaf nutritional quality.
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Shchel'tsyn, N. A., V. D. Beynenson, R. S. Fedotkin, V. A. Kryuchkov, I. F. Belyy, and V. Yu Revenko. "Comparison of traction and longevity of caterpillar driving machines of agricultural tractors." Izvestiya MGTU MAMI 11, no. 4 (December 15, 2017): 81–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.17816/2074-0530-66873.
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The results of tests of various types of caterpillars on the tractor VT-150 on the evaluation of traction indicators, as well as sealing effect on the soil are presented. It is established that the tractor BT-150 with rubber-reinforced caterpillars in the zone of nominal traction effort of 36 ... 45 kN for tractors of class 3 develops the maximum traction power of 90.5 kW at a speed of 8.1 km / h, tractive effort of 40.2 kN and slipping 5, 1%, which is at the level of the corresponding indicators of the tractor with metal caterpillars with open metal joint. An assessment of the parameters of the effect of propulsors with different types of caterpillars on soil was carried out at the North Caucasus Experimental Station of the Krasnodar Research Institute of Agriculture of the Russian Agricultural Academy of the Russian Federation in an indoor sand channel. As a result, it is established that rubber-reinforced caterpillars ensure the operation of the tractor with soil moisture up to 0.7 НВ in the spring period and up to 0.9 НВ in the summer-autumn period. The analysis of the test results of the VT-150 tractor with various caterpillar designs showed that the use of rubber-reinforced caterpillars on the machine ensures: equality of traction parameters, including efficiency, machines on rubber-reinforced caterpillars and on metal caterpillars with open metal joint in the zone of nominal tractive effort for tractors of Class 3; the possibility of the machine working the field in conditions of high humidity; the ability of the machine to travel on roads with hard and advanced coatings without destroying them in comparison with metal caterpillars with open metal joint. It is shown that caterpillars with rubber-reinforced caterpillars have advantages in durability in comparison with metal caterpillars with open metal joint both on tractors and on combines.
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Merkx-Jacques, Magali, and Jacqueline C. Bede. "Caterpillar salivary enzymes: "eliciting" a response." Phytoprotection 85, no. 1 (August 27, 2004): 33–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.7202/008904ar.
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Abstract Plants exhibit remarkable plasticity in their ability to differentiate between herbivorous insect species and subtly adjust their defense responses to target distinct pests. One key mechanism used by plants to recognize herbivorous caterpillars is elicitors present in their oral secretions; however, these elicitors not only cause the induction of plant defenses but recent evidence suggests that they may also suppress plant responses. The absence of “expected changes” in induced defense responses of insect-infested plants has been attributed to hydrogen peroxide produced by caterpillar salivary glucose oxidase (GOX). Activity of this enzyme is variable among caterpillar species; it was detected in two generalist caterpillars, the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) and the bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata), but not in other generalist or specialist caterpillar species tested. In the beet armyworm, GOX activity fluctuated over larval development with high activity associated with the salivary glands of fourth instars. Larval salivary GOX activity of the beet armyworm and the bertha armyworm was observed to be significantly higher in caterpillars reared on artificial diet as compared with those reared on Medicago truncatula plants. This implies that a factor in the diet is involved in the regulation of caterpillar salivary enzyme activity. Therefore, plant diet may be regulating caterpillar oral elicitors that are involved in the regulation of plant defense responses: our goal is to understand these two processes.
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Rafter, Jamie L., Justin F. Vendettuoli, Liahna Gonda-King, Daniel Niesen, Navindra P. Seeram, Chad M. Rigsby, and Evan L. Preisser. "Pretty Picky for a Generalist: Impacts of Toxicity and Nutritional Quality on Mantid Prey Processing." Environmental Entomology 46, no. 3 (March 20, 2017): 626–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvx038.
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Abstract Prey have evolved a number of defenses against predation, and predators have developed means of countering these protective measures. Although caterpillars of the monarch butterfly,Danaus plexippus L., are defended by cardenolides sequestered from their host plants, the Chinese mantidTenodera sinensis Saussure guts the caterpillar before consuming the rest of the body. We hypothesized that this gutting behavior might be driven by the heterogeneous quality of prey tissue with respect to toxicity and/or nutrients. We conducted behavioral trials in which mantids were offered cardenolide-containing and cardenolide-freeD. plexippus caterpillars and butterflies. In addition, we fed mantids starved and unstarvedD. plexippus caterpillars from each cardenolide treatment and nontoxicOstrinia nubilalis Hübner caterpillars. These trials were coupled with elemental analysis of the gut and body tissues of bothD. plexippus caterpillars and corn borers. Cardenolides did not affect mantid behavior: mantids gutted both cardenolide-containing and cardenolide-free caterpillars. In contrast, mantids consumed bothO. nubilalis and starvedD. plexippus caterpillars entirely.Danaus plexippus body tissue has a lower C:N ratio than their gut contents, whileO. nubilalis have similar ratios; gutting may reflect the mantid’s ability to regulate nutrient uptake. Our results suggest that post-capture prey processing by mantids is likely driven by a sophisticated assessment of resource quality.
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Kapojos, Lindsay Vanessa, Feti Fatimah, and Vanda Selvana Kamu. "Uji Toksisitas, Kolesterol, dan Aktivitas Antioksidan Minyak Ulat Sagu (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) Sebelum dan Sesudah Pengolahan." CHEMISTRY PROGRESS 16, no. 2 (December 4, 2023): 133–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.35799/cp.16.2.2023.47711.
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Ulat sagu di kota Manado pada umumnya digunakan untuk dikonsumsi serta dipakai sebagai bahan memancing atau kail. Ulat sagu sulit didapatkan karena tidak semua masyarakat mengkonsumsi atau memanfaatkan hewan ini dan banyak orang juga tidak mengetahui kelebihan lain dari ulat sagu seperti kandungan minyak yang didapati dari tubuh ulat sagu. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk menguji toksisitas, kadar kolesterol dan nilai aktivitas antioksidan dari minyak ulat sagu sebelum dan sesudah pengolahan. Hasil penelitian dari uji toksisitas in vivo menggunakan larva udang (Artemia Salina L.) menunjukkan nilai LC50 sebelum dan sesudah pengolahan minyak ulat sagu berturut-turut sebesar 1,494 ppm dan 4,587 ppm. Minyak ulat sagu sebelum dan sesudah pengolahan terdeteksi tidak mengandung kolesterol. Pengujian aktivitas antioksidan melalui metode DPPH menunjukkan bahwa aktivitas antioksidan tertinggi untuk minyak ulat sagu sebelum pengolahan adalah 28,38% dan sesudah pengolahan adalah 54,95%. Sago caterpillars in Manado are generally used for consumption and fishing or hook material. Sago caterpillars are difficult to find because not many people consume this animal and many people also do not know about the other advantages of sago caterpillars, such as the oil content found in the bodies of sago caterpillars. This research aimed to test the toxicity, cholesterol levels, and antioxidant activity values of sago caterpillar oil before and after processing. In vivo toxicity tests using shrimp larvae (Artemia Salina L.) showed LC50 values before and after processing sago caterpillar oil of 1,494 ppm and 4,587 ppm, respectively. Sago caterpillar oil before and after processing was detected to contain no cholesterol. Testing antioxidant activity using the DPPH method showed that the highest antioxidant activity for sago caterpillar oil before processing was 28.38% and after processing was 54.95%.
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Sharipov, V. M., R. S. Fedotkin, V. A. Kryuchkov, K. A. Bogdanov, and P. I. Volkov. "Experimental verification of the reliability of the method of designing driving wheels of pin gearing with rubber-reinforced caterpillars." Izvestiya MGTU MAMI 11, no. 3 (September 15, 2017): 76–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.17816/2074-0530-66875.
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The obvious advantages of rubber-reinforced caterpillars over tracks of other types make them indispensable for traction and transport vehicles for various purposes. Among other things, such caterpillars are distinguished by the possibility of their installation on the machine in place of metal caterpillars without a significant alteration of the design of chassis. Nevertheless, together with the replacement of the metal caterpillar with rubber reinforced in practice, it is also necessary to replace the existing driving wheel with a specially designed for rubber-reinforced caterpillar. This happens due to the fundamental differences in caterpillar designs and the features of their work. Until recently, there was no unified engineering method for designing the engagement of the driving wheel with the rubber-reinforced caterpillar. In one of the previous works, the authors developed a technique that takes into account the features of rubber-reinforced caterpillars. This article describes the experimental testing of this technique on the example of a specific machine - self-propelled tracked sprayer for agricultural purposes. Designed in accordance with the developed technique, prototypes of driving wheels in the self-propelled caterpillar sprayer passed a complex of factory tests, including static and dynamic phases. At the static phase of the tests, the input and output of the teeth of the drive wheels were checked from engagement during the assembly of the drive system of the chassis. During the dynamic phase, the reliability of the engagement has been checked at various driving regimes and loads of the self-propelled caterpillar sprayer. In addition, a study was made of the engagement in dynamics with the hung side of the chassis. Experimental studies have confirmed the reliability of the driving wheel samples, the reliability and adequacy of the developed methodology. The recommendations for further investigation of the pin gearing and refinement of the design methodology are given in the paper, including the creation of specialized bench equipment.
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Mustarsidin, Muhammad, Syachruddin AR, and Ahmad Raksun. "Effect of Gadung Tuber Extract (Dioscorea hispida) on Mortality of Caterpillars (Spodoptera exigua) in Shallots (Allium cepa) in East Lombok." Jurnal Biologi Tropis 20, no. 3 (January 13, 2021): 556. http://dx.doi.org/10.29303/jbt.v20i3.2356.
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Plants that can be used as pesticides are Gadung tubers. Gadung tubers contain cyanide acid to kill armyworm pests because they contain dioscorin toxins which can cause nervous disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Gadung tuber extract (Dioscorea hispida) on Caterpillar mortality (Spodoptera exigua) in Shallot plants. This type of research is experimental research. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD). The sample used was 5 caterpillars (Spodoptera exigua) in each polybag with 5 repetitions for each concentration of Gadung tuber extract, namely 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% and 2.5%, so the total Caterpillar used was 150 Caterpillars. Gadung tuber extraction was carried out by maceration method with methanol solvent. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance at the 95% significance level, followed by DMRT (Duncans Multiple Range Test). The results showed that the Gadung tuber extract had a significant effect on the mortality of caterpillars (Spodoptera exigua) because the F count was greater than the F table (45.40>2.62), and the DMRT test results showed that the optimal concentration of Gadung tuber extract was 2.5%. Therefore, it can be concluded that the extract of Gadung tuber (Dioscorea hispida) affects the mortality of Caterpillars (Spodoptera exigua) in Shallots (Allium cepa).
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Castellano, Sergio, and Paolo Cermelli. "Preys’ exploitation of predators’ fear: when the caterpillar plays the Gruffalo." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282, no. 1820 (December 7, 2015): 20151786. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.1786.
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Alike the little mouse of the Gruffalo's tale, many harmless preys use intimidating deceptive signals as anti-predator strategies. For example, several caterpillars display eyespots and face-like colour patterns that are thought to mimic the face of snakes as deterrents to insectivorous birds. We develop a theoretical model to investigate the hypothesis that these defensive strategies exploit adaptive cognitive biases of birds, which make them much more likely to confound caterpillars with snakes than vice versa. By focusing on the information-processing mechanisms of decision-making, the model assumes that, during prey assessment, the bird accumulates noisy evidence supporting either the snake-escape or the caterpillar-attack motor responses, which compete against each other for execution. Competition terminates when the evidence for either one of the responses reaches a critical threshold. This model predicts a strong asymmetry and a strong negative correlation between the prey- and the predator-decision thresholds, which increase with the increasing risk of snake predation and assessment uncertainty. The threshold asymmetry causes an asymmetric distribution of false-negative and false-positive errors in the snake–caterpillar decision plane, which makes birds much more likely to be deceived by the intimidating signals of snake-mimicking caterpillars than by the alluring signals of caterpillar-mimicking snakes.
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Supriatno, Raiyatul Jannah, Safrida, Hafnati, and Samingan. "Toxicity Test of Shallot Skin Extract (Allium ascalonicum) on Mortality of Leaf Roller Caterpillar (Spoladea recurvalis)." Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA 9, no. 11 (November 25, 2023): 9474–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.29303/jppipa.v9i11.4566.
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Pests are creatures that destroy crops and, in general, hurt farmers financially. The leaf roller caterpillar is one of the pests that can result in crop loss in horticultural crops, particularly spinach. Vegetable pesticides, including shallot skin extract, can effectively and sustainably control the pest leaf roller caterpillars. This study sought to ascertain the impact of shallot skin extract on leaf roller caterpillar mortality after 48 hours of treatment. The experimental study design with a completely randomized design (CRD), 7 treatments, 4 replications, and a total of 28 treatments was employed. P0 (negative control), P1 (10,000 ppm), P2 (20,000 ppm), P3 (30,000 ppm), P4 (40,000 ppm), P5 (50,000 ppm), and P6 (500 ppm decis/positive control) were the treatments employed. 280 leaf roller caterpillars served as the test subjects. The study's findings after 48 hours of observation under the P5 treatment indicated that shallot skin extract had a fatality rate of 100%, killing 40 test animals. The study's finding is that shallot skin extract significantly affects how many leaf roller caterpillars die.
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Trees, Trees. "Sago caterpillar: ALTERNATIVE LOCAL FOOD SOURCES OF NUTRITION POST PANDEMIC FAMILY." Asian Journal of Healthy and Science 1, no. 2 (November 14, 2022): 57–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.58631/ajhs.v1i2.11.
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The existence of sago caterpillars as an alternative source of animal protein brings its own color in food diversity because it is unique and potentially available in sago crop areas. Sago caterpillars are included in the class of food ingredients that are easily damaged, so it is necessary to carry out an innovative processing, one of which is by using a vacuum dryer to maintain shelf life and aesthetics so that it is easily accepted. During the pandemic, animal food sources have increased in price, so it is important to look for other rich local foods. protein, amino acids, zinc, minerals, albumin, are needed to increase the body's immune system and maintain stamina. The purpose of introducing sago caterpillars in the community as an alternative source of animal protein during the pandemic. This research is a descriptive qualitative approach, namely to obtain information about the use of sago caterpillars as a food source. The results of the chemical laboratory analysis of sago caterpillars studied from the Wolasi sub-district of South Konawe Regency showed that the average water content of fresh sago caterpillars was 57.92%, total energy 265.67 kcal, protein 8.52%, total fat 20.07% and carbohydrates 12, 74%. While the mean water content of dry sago caterpillar was 4.31%, total energy was 374.80 kcal, protein was 16.66%, total fat was <0.02% and carbohydrates was 77.04%.. In conclusion, in terms of nutritional content, sago caterpillars have the potential to be an alternative source of animal protein
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Sarvašová, Lenka, Ján Kulfan, Miroslav Saniga, Milan Zúbrik, and Peter Zach. "Winter Geometrid Moths in Oak Forests: Is Monitoring a Single Species Reliable to Predict Defoliation Risk?" Forests 11, no. 3 (March 2, 2020): 288. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f11030288.
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Species within the group of winter moths (Geometridae) are important oak defoliators in European forests. Adults of these species emerge either in late autumn (‘autumn species’) or in early spring (‘spring species’), and caterpillars of both ‘autumn’ and ‘spring’ species appear in spring. The abundance of adults assessed by regular monitoring allows the prediction of the defoliation intensity in trees by caterpillars in the following spring. ‘Autumn species’ (mostly a single one, Operophtera brumata) are monitored by forestry practices as pests, whereas ‘spring species’ are often not paid any attention. We hypothesised that ‘spring species’ could also have an important share in caterpillar assemblages in oak forests. We aimed to study the proportions between ‘autumn’ and ‘spring’ species in adult and larval stages. In a xeric thermophilous oak forest in southern Slovakia, Central Europe, we collected adult moths using sticky bands set up on trunks of Quercus pubescens during the winter of 2014–2015 and caterpillars from other trees belonging to the same oak species over the following spring. We also captured caterpillars from several oak species in various areas and over different years in Slovakia and Bulgaria, and we compiled relevant literature data. ‘Spring species’ recorded from a unique forest as adults during winter and as caterpillars in the following spring were significantly more abundant than ‘autumn species.’ Moreover, ‘spring species’ from Slovakian forests, regardless of the locality, the oak species and the year of sampling, reached high proportions, mostly over 50% of individuals in caterpillar assemblages. The ‘spring species’ Agriopis leucophaearia was the most abundant, followed by the ‘autumn species’ Operophtera brumata. ‘Spring species’ accounted for more than 50% of individuals in caterpillar assemblages in the Balkan Peninsula (Bulgaria) concerning one case, and they were of little importance in northern Greece. We recommend monitoring all winter moth adults (‘autumn’ and ‘spring’ species together) continuously in forestry practices, using sticky bands on oak trees from late autumn to early spring.
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Becker, V. O. "Notes on the identity of Phalaena Attacus cassandra Cramer, [1779] (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae, Arsenurinae)." SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 50, no. 199 (September 30, 2022): 531–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.57065/shilap.67.
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The identity of Phalaena Attacus cassandra Cramer, [1779] is established, based on a female reared from a caterpillar that matched the description and illustration by STOLL (1790), raising the following questions: Are Attacus armida and Attacus cassandra really the same species, or two different species, as supposed by CRAMER (1771 [1779]), when described the adults, and Stoll, when he described the caterpillars? If they are the same, are the caterpillars polymorphic? Illustrations of the larvae and adult provide evidence that support these questions.
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Nikolic, Sasa, Igor Kocic, Dragan Antic, Darko Mitic, Nikola Dankovic, Miroslav Milovanovic, and Petar Djekic. "Speed and tensile force control of the pulling devices of the continuous line." Thermal Science, no. 00 (2023): 138. http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/tsci230418138n.
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In cable production, it is imperative to control speed and tension. This paper proposes a web tensile force regulation between input and output pulling caterpillar devices. The web tensile force is controlled indirectly using a PI controller based on feedback information about tensile force using a tensile observer. This paper also deals with the regulation speed of the input-pulling caterpillar device and the speed and torque (current) of output pulling caterpillar device and deals with the effect of line speed on the temperature change at the extruder zones. The input and output-pulling caterpillar devices are connected by the web material that is processed on them. The input and output-pulling caterpillar devices are connected by the web material that is processed on them. The task was realized using a PLC Micrologix 1200 controller and SIMOREG DC drives, which regulate the input caterpillar's speed and output caterpillar's torque. The identification of separately excited DC motors parameters was made. Models for the input, output caterpillars and web zone were simulated in Matlab and Simulink. The controllers of the current loop, velocity loop, and tension loop are all integral isolated PI regulators. Speed signal is obtained by tacho generator. In practical realization, tensile force is observed directly from the Simoreg DC converter, eliminating the tension sensor. The tensile force controller is realized with the PI controller, which was realized with PLC. Setting optimal parameters is performed using ITAE criteria. The ITAE function is calculated using a complex Simpson's quadrature formula.
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Ombeni, Justin Birhashwirwa, Maria Vittoria Conti, Hellas Cena, and Theodore Munyuli. "Potential of Dried Edible Caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) Vending on Local Markets to Improve Mineral Suitability in the Diet of the Population in Democratic Republic of the Congo." International Journal on Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources 5, no. 2 (July 2, 2024): 10–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.46676/ij-fanres.v5i2.252.
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Insects, a traditional food in many parts of the world, are highly nutritious and especially rich in proteins and thus represent a potential food and protein source. They are rich in essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids and provide ample quantities of minerals such as Fe, Zn, Mn, Ca, and P essential for human health. The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional value of dried edible caterpillars with an exclusive focus on mineral content. Quantitative analysis of seven essential minerals for humans was analyzed for two dried edible caterpillars currently commercialized in Bukavu town, South Kivu province (eastern DR Congo) central market including Bunaeopsis aurantiaca (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) and Imbrasia oyemensis (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae). Mineral content analysis of Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, and Mn were carried out using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) while the P content was analyzed using the Colorimetric method, then the mineral content was compared to the recommended daily intakes (mg/day). On a dry weight basis, we find that mineral content differed with type of caterpillar. I. oyemensis had the highest concentrations of most minerals tested compared to B. aurantiaca, which nevertheless had the greatest amount of phosphorus (P). P was significantly the most abundant mineral detected (605.70 ± 6.08 mg/100g; p < 0.001), followed by Mg and Na in I. oyemensis with 220.11 ± 6.10 mg/100g and 216.43 ± 1.08 mg/100g respectively. Oligo-minerals Zn and Fe, were the lowest in the caterpillar samples. All the edible caterpillars analyzed met the recommended daily mineral intake. The consumption of < 28 g and < 8 g of these caterpillars covers daily RNI in adults for Fe and Mn respectively. Thus, edible caterpillars in this study have shown that they can be excellent contributors to people's mineral requirements and should be sustainably utilized. Aside from direct consumption, there is a huge potential for using these caterpillars as raw material and food fortification. The mineral content of commonly eaten caterpillars was analyzed to inform consumers among indigenous populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo about the micro-nutritional quality of the insects.
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Kupryunin, D. G., N. A. Shchelnitsyn, V. D. Beyinenson, R. S. Fedotkin, I. F. Belyi, and V. Y. Revenko. "Experimental study of comparative indicators of agricultural tractors caterpillar drive." Izvestiya MGTU MAMI 10, no. 3 (September 15, 2016): 16–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.17816/2074-0530-66891.
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Rubber reinforced caterpillars are becoming more common in agricultural tractors, harvesters and military tracked vehicles. The use of rubber reinforced caterpillars comparing to metal tracks allow: to reduce on 25-30% the sealing effect on soil; ensure the movement of vehicle on the roads with asphalt pavement without its damage; to increase vehicle road speed to 40 ... 50 km / h; to reduce noise and to improve working conditions for tractor driver; to increase reliability. Nowadays there are no comparative results of experimental evaluation on the application of rubber reinforced caterpillars and metal tracks on tractors. Traction tests of tractors with rubber reinforced caterpillars abroad are conducted on a specially prepared supporting surface in the form of a rubber blanket, where tractors with metal caterpillar tracks could not be tested. In this case the obtained tractor traction characteristics differ significantly from the actual operation. The paper presents the results of comparative tests of VK-150 tractor manufactured at Volgograd tractor plant on stubble of winter wheat with rubber reinforced and metal tracks with open metal joints. It was found that the developed domestic machines and manufacturing technologies of rubber reinforced caterpillars for agricultural tractors provide equal traction parameters of tractor with series metal and rubber reinforced tracks in zone in the area of nominal traction forces for tractors of class 3. By set of technical characteristics chassis with rubber reinforced caterpillars perform better than chassis with metal caterpillars with open joints (in terms of vibration loading, noise and flotation).
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Barrientos, Christian. "On the number of caterpillars." Indonesian Journal of Combinatorics 6, no. 2 (December 31, 2022): 77. http://dx.doi.org/10.19184/ijc.2022.6.2.1.
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<p style="text-align: justify;">A caterpillar is a tree obtained from a path by attaching pendant vertices. The number of caterpillars of size <em>n</em> is a well-known result. In this work extend this result exploring the number of caterpillars of size <em>n</em> together with the cardinalities of the stable sets and the diameter. Three closed formulas are presented, giving the number of caterpillars of size <em>n</em> with: (i) smaller stable set of cardinality <em>k</em>, (ii) diameter <em>d</em>, and (iii) diameter <em>d</em> and smaller stable set of cardinality <em>k</em>.</p>
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Milanovic, Slobodan. "Host plant effect on the susceptibility of gypsy moth caterpillars to insecticides." Bulletin of the Faculty of Forestry, no. 85 (2002): 69–78. http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/gsf0285069m.
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Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L) is the most significant pest of broadleaf forests. The dynamics of gypsy moth population depends on several biotic and abiotic factors, but it is also highly dependent on the quality of consumed food. The gypsy moth control increasingly relies on the biological preparations based on Bacillus thuringiensis subspec. kurstaki (Btk) and Lymantria dispar Nuclear Poliedrosis virus (NPV). Chemical preparations are still applied although more rarely, the pyrethroids which include also lambda-cyhalothrin This paper presents the study results of the effect of host plant on gypsy moth caterpillar (Lymantria dispar L) susceptibility to lambda cihalotrine insecticide, by which the study oak leaves were contaminated. The study results show the lowest mortality of the caterpillars fed on contaminated leaves of Turkey oak (17.5%), then pedunculate oak (86.1%), and the highest mortality of caterpillars fed on sessile oak leaves (92%). The rate of the gypsy moth caterpillar development depends on the host plant Susceptibility of the gypsy moth caterpillars to the above preparation depends on the host plant The knowledge of the effect of host plant on insecticide efficiency in gypsy moth suppression would render insecticide utilisation optimal.
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Agasyeva, Irina. "Ectoparasite Habrobracon Hebetor Say Is an Efficient Biological Control Agent of Lepidopteran Pests." E3S Web of Conferences 285 (2021): 03010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202128503010.
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Ectoparasite Habrobracon hebetor Say is one of the most widely used biological controllers in biological plant protection against a number of harmful lepidopterans, including especially dangerous pests of corn, soy, fruit and vegetable crops. As a result of research conducted in 2017, food specialization and parasitic activity of three different populations of H.hebetor were studied. Two races have been identified for mass rearing and application: pyralid and leaf roller (against corn moth, bean pod borer, apple and plum moths), and pyralid owl-moth (against cotton moth, corn borer, bean pod borer and boxwood moth). As a result of studies of biological features and trophic needs, it has been determined that caterpillars of mill moth (Ephestia cuhniellia Zella) should be used as a host insect for laboratory cultivation of the stock population of the Habrobracon pyralid and leaf roller race (race No. 1). For the introduced from South Kazakhstan the H.hebetor pyralid and noctuid race the most productive rearing is on the caterpillars of large bee moth (Galleria mellonela L.). Optimal temperature for rearing of both races is 26-28 ° C, relative air humidity is 70% and photoperiod is not less than 16 hours. It has been noticed that before laying eggs on the host’s caterpillars, the Habrobracon female preliminarily paralyzes the victim, piercing the sheath with ovipositor. As a result, the caterpillar stops eating and is immobilized. In 3-4 days larvae hatch out of the laid on the caterpillar eggs. The larvae feed on the contents of the caterpillars for 4-5 days, then pupate and after 6-8 days an adult insect leaves the cocoon. The development of one generation lasts 13-16 days, one cocoon includes one parasite. 1,000 large bee moth caterpillars used for infection provide on average 5.8-6.0 thousand cocoons, of which an average of 4.5-4.7 thousand parasites fly out.
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Diakov, Aleksey S., Aleksey V. Pozdeev, and Vyacheslav V. Novikov. "The main directions of the development of snowmobiles in the Russian Federation." MATEC Web of Conferences 224 (2018): 02080. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201822402080.
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This article describes such constructive units of domestic snowmobiles as gasoline engines, layout schemes and types of platforms, caterpillar propulsions unit and caterpillars, front and rear suspension, steering, transmission and brake systems.
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Borges Junior, Norton, Ervandil C. Costa, Dayanna N. Machado, Leandra Pedron, Jardel Boscardin, and João A. C. Vivian. "First occurrence of Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker, 1858) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on eucalyptus seedlings after field transplantation in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil." Entomological Communications 2 (September 17, 2020): ec02023. http://dx.doi.org/10.37486/2675-1305.ec02023.
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This study reports the first occurrence of Spodoptera cosmioides (Walker, 1858) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae causing defoliation in transplanted seedlings in a clonal plantation of Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake (Myrtaceae), in Butiá municipality, Rio Grande do Sul State (30°9’45” S; 51°59’42” W). The S. cosmioides caterpillars are polyphagous, including eucalyptus among their host plants. It was observed that the caterpillar infestation damaged 80% of the seedlings, while the defoliation varied from 13% to 24% per plant. This is the first record of S. cosmioides caterpillars causing injuries in a new plantation of E. urophylla.
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Anttonen, Perttu, Yi Li, Douglas Chesters, Andréa Davrinche, Sylvia Haider, Helge Bruelheide, Jing-Ting Chen, et al. "Leaf Nutritional Content, Tree Richness, and Season Shape the Caterpillar Functional Trait Composition Hosted by Trees." Insects 13, no. 12 (November 29, 2022): 1100. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/insects13121100.
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Nutritional content of host plants is expected to drive caterpillar species assemblages and their trait composition. These relationships are altered by tree richness-induced neighborhood variation and a seasonal decline in leaf quality. We tested how key functional traits related to the growth and defenses of the average caterpillar hosted by a tree species are shaped by nutritional host quality. We measured morphological traits and estimated plant community-level diet breadth based on occurrences from 1020 caterpillars representing 146 species in a subtropical tree diversity experiment from spring to autumn in one year. We focused on interspecific caterpillar trait variation by analyzing presence-only patterns of caterpillar species for each tree species. Our results show that tree richness positively affected caterpillar species-sharing among tree species, which resulted in lowered trait variation and led to higher caterpillar richness for each tree species. However, community-level diet breadth depended more on the nutritional content of host trees. Higher nutritional quality also supported species-poorer but more abundant communities of smaller and less well-defended caterpillars. This study demonstrates that the leaf nutritional quality of trees shapes caterpillar trait composition across diverse species assemblages at fine spatial scales in a way that can be predicted by ecological theory.
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Evlagin, V. G., L. N. Skorykh, and E. G. Evlagina. "Prospects of using silkworm biomass in sheep feeding." Glavnyj zootehnik (Head of Animal Breeding), no. 8 (May 20, 2021): 3–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.33920/sel-03-2108-01.
Full textAbstract:
Due to the increase of consumption of food products by the population, especially of animal origin, the need of the livestock industry including sheep breeding for high-quality feed from an ecological point of view also increases. Recently, insects have received a lot of attention as a source of feed protein in the diet of farm animals. This is evidenced by numerous studies on the nutritional value and use of larvae of Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), Green-bottle fly (Lucilia Caesar), House fly (Musca domestica), meal worm (Tenebrio molitor), silkworms (Bombyx mori), and crickets (Gryllusbi maculatus) as food for farm animals. It is well known from foreign literature sources about the use of additive from silkworm pupae in the ration of sheep, as well as meal from crickets as the source of protein in the diet of lambs. The silkworm is a monophage eats in only at the caterpillar stage absorbing and accumulating the necessary nutrients and water from the mulberry leaves. The analysis of the works of foreign authors shows that the protein content in the silkworm caterpillars depending on the breed ranges from 63,02 to 67,99 %. However, the analysis of the content of the main nutrients in the section of silkworm breeds as well as the age of the caterpillars was not carried out in the works of domestic scientists. This research presents data on the nutrient content and metabolic energy in silkworm caterpillars by age depending on the breed for further development of the feed additive from silkworm biomass and its use in sheep breeding. In the course of the conducted research, the following results have been obtained. So, at the end of the 4th age on average the caterpillars have a body length of 4,5–5,0 cm, the weight of one caterpillar is 0,6–0,7 g. The largest size and weight are the caterpillars on 10 days of the 5th age; their body length on average for the studied breeds was 8,0–8,5 cm, the weight of one caterpillar was 4,5–5,5 g. The optimal stage of development of silkworm caterpillars for the production of feed additive is 10 days in the 5th age. During this period the caterpillars of the studied breeds Kavkaz-1, Kavkaz-2, Belokokonnaya-1, Belokokonnaya-2 contain protein from 62,71 to 66,55 %, fat from 14,81 to 16,95 %, fi ber from 2,36 to 2,81 %, ash 4,39–3,96 % and nitrogen-free extractive substances 9,31–15,81 % in absolutely dry matter. The highest content of nutrients and metabolic energy is allocated to the breeds Belokokonnaya-2 (protein – 66,55 %, fat – 16,95 %, metabolic energy – 20,86 MJ/kg) and Kavkaz-2 (protein – 64,10 %, fat – 15,59 %, metabolic energy – 20,24 MJ/kg).
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Ngapiyatun, Sri, N. Hidayat, and F. Mulyadi. "PENGENDALIAN PALATABILITAS ULAT API PADA TANAMAN SAWIT DENGAN APLIKASI BEBERAPA PESTISIDA NABATI DI LABORATORIUM." Jurnal Hutan Tropis 5, no. 2 (January 11, 2018): 166. http://dx.doi.org/10.20527/jht.v5i2.4371.
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One of the factors that cause the minus of palm oil is caterpillar pest attack. This study is conducted to make vegetable pesticides from seeds and soursop leaves, lemon grass, pepper and tobacco to overcome the palatability of the caterpillar. This study aims to determine the best extraction of vegetable pesticide and their effect in reducing the palatability of the caterpillar. The research was carried out in the laboratory and in palm fruit garden of MuaraBadak. The duration of research is 2 months covering preparation of tools and materials, making and application of vegetable pesticide and data retrieval. This study used a complete randomized design consisting of 6 treatments, namely control, soursop seeds, soursop leaves, lemongrass, peppercorn, and tobacco that are repeated 3 times. The leaves are dipped in pesticides according to the treatment and then the leaves are applied to the caterpillars for 7 days in which the leaves and the caterpillar are inserted into a jar being covered with gauze. The observed parameters are the activity of the caterpillar, the day of the caterpillar, and the caterpillar palatability. The results show that the best vegetable pesticides that could decrease the palatability of the caterpillars are tobacco extract treatment, which reaches 100%, where the caterpillars do not want to eat the application leaves and the caterpillars die on the 1st day after application.Keywords : Biological pesticide; palatability; fire caterpillar; palm oil.Salah satu faktor yang menyebabkan rendahnya hasil buah sawit adalah serangan hama ulat api. Dalam penelitian ini dilakukan pembuatan pestisida nabati dari biji dan daun sirsak, serai, biji lada dan tembakau untuk mengatasi palatabilitas ulat api. Penelitian ini bertujuan menentukan ekstraksi pestisida nabati yang terbaik dan pengaruhnya dalam menurunkan palatabilitas ulat api. Penelitian dilaksanakan di laboratorium dan di kebun sawit Muara Badak, lama waktu penelitian 2 bulan meliputi persiapan alat dan bahan, pembuatan dan aplikasi pestisida nabati serta pengambilan data. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap yang terdiri 6 perlakuan yaitu kontrol, biji sirsak, daun sirsak, serai, biji lada, dan tembakau yang diulang sebanyak 3 kali. Daun dicelupkan ke dalam pestisida sesuai dengan perlakuan kemudian daun diaplikasikan ke ulat selama 7 hari dengan cara daun dan ulat di masukkan ke dalam toples yang ditutup dengan kain kasa. Parameter yang diamati yaitu, aktifitas ulat, hari keberapa ulat mati, dan palatabilitas ulat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pestisida nabati terbaik yang dapat menurunkan palatabilitas ulat api adalah perlakuan ekstrak tembakau yaitu mencapai 100%, dimana ulat tidak mau memakan daun aplikasi dan ulat mati pada hari ke-1 setelah aplikasi.Kata Kunci : Pestisida Nabati; Palatabilitas; Ulat Api; Kelapa Sawit
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Gerber F. Incacari Sancho, Aura Guerrero-Luzuriaga, Dr Mukta Jagdish, Andres Medina Guzman,. "Detection and Classification of Caterpillar using Image Processing with K-Nearest Neighbor Classification Technique." Turkish Journal of Computer and Mathematics Education (TURCOMAT) 12, no. 5 (April 11, 2021): 719–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.17762/turcomat.v12i5.1475.
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Caterpillars are the developmental stage of the flying insect called butterfly. The moths are the beautiful creature of earth which comes under the class of insects. They are recognized by their beautiful and colorful forewings body and legs. Caterpillars are the larval stage of the moth which are found in the leaf and stem of the plants when the moth laid eggs on the leaves after their mating. Caterpillar after fully developed from its eggs draw out a flimsy, soft cocoon made up of dark coarse silk on leaves and stem for their shelter. Caterpillar is also a beautiful creature that is found with different colors and strips with spines and urticating hair in their body for releasing venom for self-defense from external predators. The present study works on the detection and classification of the caterpillar using image processing with a k-NN classifier.This research help in characterizing the type of caterpillar image classification for particular three classes such as accuracy of Buck Moth Caterpillar, the accuracy of Saddleback Caterpillar, and the accuracy of Io moth Caterpillar. The following stages have been considered are preprocessing, segmentation, feature extraction, and classification methods using K- Nearest Neighbor classifier. The present investigation results that SYMLET5 analysis works well in the classification of the caterpillar with an accuracy of 96% using K- Nearest Neighbor classifier compare with other measures during investigation and analysis.
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Hossie, Thomas John, John Skelhorn, Jesse W. Breinholt, Akito Y. Kawahara, and Thomas N. Sherratt. "Body size affects the evolution of eyespots in caterpillars." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112, no. 21 (May 11, 2015): 6664–69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415121112.
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Many caterpillars have conspicuous eye-like markings, called eyespots. Despite recent work demonstrating the efficacy of eyespots in deterring predator attack, a fundamental question remains: Given their protective benefits, why have eyespots not evolved in more caterpillars? Using a phylogenetically controlled analysis of hawkmoth caterpillars, we show that eyespots are associated with large body size. This relationship could arise because (i) large prey are innately conspicuous; (ii) large prey are more profitable, and thus face stronger selection to evolve such defenses; and/or (iii) eyespots are more effective on large-bodied prey. To evaluate these hypotheses, we exposed small and large caterpillar models with and without eyespots in a 2 × 2 factorial design to avian predators in the field. Overall, eyespots increased prey mortality, but the effect was particularly marked in small prey, and eyespots decreased mortality of large prey in some microhabitats. We then exposed artificial prey to naïve domestic chicks in a laboratory setting following a 2 × 3 design (small or large size × no, small, or large eyespots). Predators attacked small prey with eyespots more quickly, but were more wary of large caterpillars with large eyespots than those without eyespots or with small eyespots. Taken together, these data suggest that eyespots are effective deterrents only when both prey and eyespots are large, and that innate aversion toward eyespots is conditional. We conclude that the distribution of eyespots in nature likely results from selection against eyespots in small caterpillars and selection for eyespots in large caterpillars (at least in some microhabitats).
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Wilcox, Alana A. E., Amy E. M. Newman, and D. Ryan Norris. "Developmental and reproductive effects of clothianidin exposure in monarch butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)." Canadian Entomologist 153, no. 3 (March 16, 2021): 327–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.4039/tce.2021.5.
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AbstractNeonicotinoid insecticides are used to reduce crop damage caused by insect pests, but sublethal levels could affect development and reproduction in nontarget insects, such as monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). To investigate the impact of field-realistic concentrations of the neonicotinoid clothianidin on monarch butterflies, we grew swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) (Apocynaceae) in either low (15 ng/g of soil) or high (25 ng/g of soil) levels of clothianidin, or in a control (0 ng/g), then raised monarchs on the milkweed. Morphological traits of monarch caterpillars were measured during development and, once they eclosed, were mated as adults to quantify egg size and mass and the number of eggs laid. Although the effects of the treatment had complex effects on caterpillar length, width and volume of late-instar caterpillars were negatively affected. Fifth-instar caterpillars from the high-dose insecticide treatment had lower mass than other groups. Adult monarch butterflies raised on treated milkweed were larger than controls, but clothianidin exposure did not affect the number of eggs laid or egg size. Although the magnitude of the effect depends on clothianidin concentration, our results suggest that exposure to clothianidin during early life can impact monarch caterpillar development but is unlikely to reduce female reproductive output.
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Rivas-Ubach, Albert, Josep Peñuelas, José Hódar, Michal Oravec, Ljiljana Paša-Tolić, Otmar Urban, and Jordi Sardans. "We Are What We Eat: A Stoichiometric and Ecometabolomic Study of Caterpillars Feeding on Two Pine Subspecies of Pinus sylvestris." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 20, no. 1 (December 24, 2018): 59. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms20010059.
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Many studies have addressed several plant-insect interaction topics at nutritional, molecular, physiological, and evolutionary levels. However, it is still unknown how flexible the metabolism and the nutritional content of specialist insect herbivores feeding on different closely related plants can be. We performed elemental, stoichiometric, and metabolomics analyses on leaves of two coexisting Pinus sylvestris subspecies and on their main insect herbivore; the caterpillar of the processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa). Caterpillars feeding on different pine subspecies had distinct overall metabolome structure, accounting for over 10% of the total variability. Although plants and insects have very divergent metabolomes, caterpillars showed certain resemblance to their plant-host metabolome. In addition, few plant-related secondary metabolites were found accumulated in caterpillar tissues which could potentially be used for self-defense. Caterpillars feeding on N and P richer needles had lower N and P tissue concentration and higher C:N and C:P ratios, suggesting that nutrient transfer is not necessarily linear through trophic levels and other plant-metabolic factors could be interfering. This exploratory study showed that little chemical differences between plant food sources can impact the overall metabolome of specialist insect herbivores. Significant nutritional shifts in herbivore tissues could lead to larger changes of the trophic web structure.
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Haupt, Tanya M., Brent J. Sinclair, Justine D. Shaw, and Steven L. Chown. "Further support for thermal ecosystem engineering by wandering albatross." Antarctic Science 28, no. 1 (September 17, 2015): 35–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0954102015000383.
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AbstractOn sub-Antarctic Marion Island, wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans) nests support high abundances of tineid moth,Pringleophaga marioni, caterpillars. Previous work proposed that the birds serve as thermal ecosystem engineers by elevating nest temperatures relative to ambient, thereby promoting growth and survival of the caterpillars. However, only 17 days of temperature data were presented previously, despite year-long nest occupation by birds. Previous sampling was also restricted to old and recently failed nests, though nests from which chicks have recently fledged are key to understanding how the engineering effect is realized. Here we build on previous work by providing nest temperature data for a full year and by sampling all three nest types. For the full duration of nest occupancy, temperatures within occupied nests are significantly higher, consistently byc. 7°C, than those in surrounding soils and abandoned nests, declining noticeably when chicks fledge. Caterpillar abundance is significantly higher in new nests compared to nests from which chicks have fledged, which in turn have higher caterpillar abundances than old nests. Combined with recent information on the life history ofP. marioni, our data suggest that caterpillars are incidentally added to the nests during nest construction, and subsequently benefit from an engineering effect.