Academic literature on the topic 'Merophyas divulsana'

Tonic plantain has become a popular forage crop but several Lepidoptera species not traditionally considered pests have caused significant damage in some stands At least two species of looper caterpillars (Family Geometridae) commonly referred to as plantain moths Scopula rubraria and Epyaxa rosearia have been associated with serious defoliation Both are thought to be New Zealand native species with S rubraria also present in Australia Leafroller caterpillars (Family Tortricidae) Merophyas leucaniana (New Zealand native) and M divulsana (Australian species) have also been found damaging plant crowns Scopula rubraria were collected from a Manawatu plantain/grass sward A laboratory colony was Five larval instars for both sexes were observed; mean weights at the start of each instar were 004 032 164 460 and 995 mg Most larval growth occurred in the fifth instar with mean maximum weight being 3565 mg Mean durations of each instar were 54 48 35 42 and 101 days and the total larval stage was 280 days Pupal duration averaged 118 days Resultant adults began laying eggs 12 days after eclosion and these hatched in 7 days The total length of the life cycle was approximately 49 days

This study investigated the role that native insectary plants can play in promoting predatory arthropods, and thereby to enhance biological control of vineyard pests in Australia. I also set out to clarify if light brown apple moth (LBAM), Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is the main lepidopteran pest of grapevines in vineyards. Economic damage is caused to grapevines each season by pest species and E. postvittana is considered the dominant insect pest in Australian vineyards. However, recent observations suggested that species of tortricids other than E. postvittana may also act as pests. I investigated which tortricids are present in local vineyards, and whether the diversity of tortricids varied significantly among vineyards. I used molecular methods to determine the species of tortricids present in the canopies of grapevines over two growing seasons. This study confirms that E. postvittana is the most common tortricid pest in South Australian vineyards. Acropolitis rudisana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), lucerne leafroller, Merophyas divulsana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and cotton tipworm, Crocidosema plebejana (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) are also present in grapevine canopies but have not been reported previously. I also sought to determine if three native candidate native insectary plants, Christmas bush, Bursaria spinosa (Cav.) (Apiales: Pittosporaceae), prickly tea-tree, Leptospermum continentale (Forst. and G.Forst) (Myrtales: Myrtaceae), and wallaby grasses, Rytidosperma ssp. (DC) (Poales: Poaceae) have the capacity to support populations of predatory arthropods throughout the year, and if they may also provide habitat for economically damaging vineyards pests. Surveys were conducted in Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley and Eden Valley vineyards over a 12-month period. The data were analysed to answer the following questions. What is the biological and functional diversity associated with each plant species? What are the features of an effective, functional native insectary plant assemblage for use in and around vineyards? What is the level of similarity and dissimilarity between the arthropod faunas of each plant species? Each plant species was found to support diverse predator species, which should attack a range of other arthropod pests across their life stages. It may also be possible to increase the functional diversity of predatory arthropods by more than three times when B. spinosa or L. continentale is incorporated into a landscape containing vineyards. Rytidosperma ssp. provides valuable complementary habitat for predatory species other than those commonly found in association with the woody perennials. When Rytidosperma ssp. are included in a viii plant assemblage with each woody plant species, this could result in an average net increase in predator morphospecies richness of at least 27%. Species distribution modelling was used to examine the potential range of each plant species under different climatic conditions. The insectary plants are naturally adapted to all of the major wine growing regions within Australia. Vineyard managers are encouraged to explore the use of B. spinosa, L. continentale and Rytidosperma ssp. as insectary plants in their vineyards. This information could help wine grape growers to manage pests like LBAM, save time and money by producing grapes with lower pest incidence, while enhancing the biodiversity of their vineyards.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food & Wine, 2019