The aim of this study is to test for photoperiodic control of larval and pupal development in the New Zealand moth Planotortrix octo Dugdale. The photoperiodic response curves for larval and pupal development and especially for instar number at 17°C and 21°C indicate that a photoperiodic mechanism is involved. Superimposed on this response is the suggestion that daylength affects development rate directly, with larvae and pupae developing faster under longer photophases. This effect is especially strong for pupal development (Chapter 3). The effects of thermophotoperiods (Chapter 4), night interruption and resonance experiments (Chapter 6) provide further evidence for photoperiodic involvement. The response to resonance experiments suggests the involvement of an hourglass rather than a circadian mechanism. Larvae reared under short days accumulate significantly more lipids in the 5th and 6th instars than larvae reared under long days (Chapter 4). This finding, combined with the suppressed development rate and higher instar number under short days, suggests that a weak form of diapause may be present in this insect. This is significant in being the first recorded incidence of a photoperiodically induced diapause in a phyllophagous New Zealand insect for which a year round food supply is available (Chapter 1). By transferring insects from long to short days I found that long days have more influence than short days on larval development (Chapter 7). An attempt was made to measure juvenile hormone titres under long and short days using a Galleria bioassay. The test used was not sensitive enough however to measure any significant amounts of juvenile hormone (Chapter 8). Simulations of the experimental results were performed using a damped circadian oscillator model (Chapter 9). This model was considered the most appropriate to use, based on the experimental results and on a review of the literature (Chapter 2). Simulations showed good similarities with experimental results in most cases, but could not account for resonance responses.

The vegetable brassicas of cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are grown in Pukekohe for the Auckland fresh-produce markets. These brassicas are attacked by three major lepidopterous pests: diamondback moth (DBM) (Plutella xylostella (L)) (Yponomeutidae), white butterfly (WB) (Pieris rapae (L.)) (Pieridae), and soybean looper (SBL) (Thysanoplusia orichalcea (F.)) (Noctuidae). Current grower strategy to combat these pests is calendar-scheduled insecticide applications. The goal of this thesis is to develop pest management alternatives. The seasonality of these three pests is discussed. DBM and WB are each under biological control by a larval and a pupal parasitoid, but this natural control is not sufficient to allow economic harvests in cabbage and was not synchronized. No parasitoids of SBL were found. The importation of additional natural enemies is discussed. A scouting system of the percent of cabbage plants infested coupled with an action threshold of. 15%-20% infested plants, resulted in good yields in field trials and allowed up to a 50% reduction in insecticide applications over the growth period when compared to a 14-day calendar schedule. Implementation of the 15% infested threshold in commercial cabbage fields resulted in up to an 83% reduction in insecticide applications with no yield decrease in quality or quantity. Application of this 15% infested plant threshold to broccoli and cauliflower decreased insecticide applications by 40% and 17%, respectively. Study of larval biology indicated that all of the lepidopterans preferentially fed on leaves; timing of the first insecticide application in broccoli and cauliflower to coincide with floret initiation decreased insecticide applications by 80% and 67%, respectively. Laboratory and field trials comparing DBM oviposition preference, larval survivability, and parasitism rates between cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are discussed. Knowledge of lepidopterous pest seasonality and biology, linked to careful timing of insecticide applications to coincide with threshold levels of pests, can take full advantage of natural enemies and reduce insecticide input in the vegetable brassicas of cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower with no decrease in crop quality.

Examination of the terminal abdominal ganglia of the New Zealand maritime earwig Anisolabis littorea (White) revealed a paraldehyde fuchsin stainable material in animals which had undergone some degree of dehydration. A Malpighian tubule bioassay preparation enabled the physiological activity of extracts of the terminal abdominal ganglia and pharmacologically actives substances to be monitored. Results obtained suggest that substances are present in the terminal abdominal ganglia which alter the Malpighian tubule secretion rate. These results are discussed in view of current theories of Malpighian tubule secretion in insects.

Biological disturbance was found to be one of the most important mechanisms control1ing community organisation in the temperate sub-tidal region. The different types of biological disturbance structuring three encrusting communities were investigated on the east coast of Northland, New Zealand. The operation of each type was determined and the rate of disturbance measured. Experimental exclusion treatments were set up to demonstrate the effects of the major disturbance agents on community structure. The urchin Evechinus chloroticus was the most abundant agent of biological disturbance and affected the widest spectrum of encrusting organisms. The abundant balistid fish Navodon scaber was another major agent of biological disturbance in this region. Disturbance of algal populations also resulted from a guild of abundant herbivorous gastropods. Two episodes of fungal/bacterial infection degraded numbers of the large sponges Ancorina alata and Polymastia fusca. The operation of the different disturbance agents was found to be generally unpredictable in both time and space. There was no escape from biological disturbance for encrusting organisms in either small or large size. Re-occupation processes on patches of free primary space were investigated both experimentally and by using settlement plates (artificial free space patches). Recruitment was found to be irregular in space and time, especially for long-lived sessile organisms. Settlement processes as well as growth and mortality of newly settled organisms were investigated with a view to understanding community development. Only one verifiable example of substrate preparation or biological succession was found to operate in the communities studied. It is postulated that community organisation is flexible and not rigidly directed along a single successional pathway. Multiple developmental pathways and multiple stable configurations are possible in the same locality, resulting from the operation of different disturbance regimes.

The vegetable brassicas of cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are grown in Pukekohe for the Auckland fresh-produce markets. These brassicas are attacked by three major lepidopterous pests: diamondback moth (DBM) (Plutella xylostella (L)) (Yponomeutidae), white butterfly (WB) (Pieris rapae (L.)) (Pieridae), and soybean looper (SBL) (Thysanoplusia orichalcea (F.)) (Noctuidae). Current grower strategy to combat these pests is calendar-scheduled insecticide applications. The goal of this thesis is to develop pest management alternatives. The seasonality of these three pests is discussed. DBM and WB are each under biological control by a larval and a pupal parasitoid, but this natural control is not sufficient to allow economic harvests in cabbage and was not synchronized. No parasitoids of SBL were found. The importation of additional natural enemies is discussed. A scouting system of the percent of cabbage plants infested coupled with an action threshold of. 15%-20% infested plants, resulted in good yields in field trials and allowed up to a 50% reduction in insecticide applications over the growth period when compared to a 14-day calendar schedule. Implementation of the 15% infested threshold in commercial cabbage fields resulted in up to an 83% reduction in insecticide applications with no yield decrease in quality or quantity. Application of this 15% infested plant threshold to broccoli and cauliflower decreased insecticide applications by 40% and 17%, respectively. Study of larval biology indicated that all of the lepidopterans preferentially fed on leaves; timing of the first insecticide application in broccoli and cauliflower to coincide with floret initiation decreased insecticide applications by 80% and 67%, respectively. Laboratory and field trials comparing DBM oviposition preference, larval survivability, and parasitism rates between cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are discussed. Knowledge of lepidopterous pest seasonality and biology, linked to careful timing of insecticide applications to coincide with threshold levels of pests, can take full advantage of natural enemies and reduce insecticide input in the vegetable brassicas of cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower with no decrease in crop quality.

Examination of the terminal abdominal ganglia of the New Zealand maritime earwig Anisolabis littorea (White) revealed a paraldehyde fuchsin stainable material in animals which had undergone some degree of dehydration. A Malpighian tubule bioassay preparation enabled the physiological activity of extracts of the terminal abdominal ganglia and pharmacologically actives substances to be monitored. Results obtained suggest that substances are present in the terminal abdominal ganglia which alter the Malpighian tubule secretion rate. These results are discussed in view of current theories of Malpighian tubule secretion in insects.

Biological disturbance was found to be one of the most important mechanisms control1ing community organisation in the temperate sub-tidal region. The different types of biological disturbance structuring three encrusting communities were investigated on the east coast of Northland, New Zealand. The operation of each type was determined and the rate of disturbance measured. Experimental exclusion treatments were set up to demonstrate the effects of the major disturbance agents on community structure. The urchin Evechinus chloroticus was the most abundant agent of biological disturbance and affected the widest spectrum of encrusting organisms. The abundant balistid fish Navodon scaber was another major agent of biological disturbance in this region. Disturbance of algal populations also resulted from a guild of abundant herbivorous gastropods. Two episodes of fungal/bacterial infection degraded numbers of the large sponges Ancorina alata and Polymastia fusca. The operation of the different disturbance agents was found to be generally unpredictable in both time and space. There was no escape from biological disturbance for encrusting organisms in either small or large size. Re-occupation processes on patches of free primary space were investigated both experimentally and by using settlement plates (artificial free space patches). Recruitment was found to be irregular in space and time, especially for long-lived sessile organisms. Settlement processes as well as growth and mortality of newly settled organisms were investigated with a view to understanding community development. Only one verifiable example of substrate preparation or biological succession was found to operate in the communities studied. It is postulated that community organisation is flexible and not rigidly directed along a single successional pathway. Multiple developmental pathways and multiple stable configurations are possible in the same locality, resulting from the operation of different disturbance regimes.

The species status and host range of Heliothis armigera was investigated. DNA profiling, mitochondrial DNA sequencing, RAPD's, along with traditional morphological and crossing methods were used to investigate micro, macro and mega-population structuring. Thirty-six new host records were added, of which a number are important common weeds and crops. Mortality due to parasitoids and fungal infections were quantified on many host species. Genetic analysis of the COII and the AT-rich regions of the mitochondrial DNA showed very high levels of variation, as did the DNA profiling using the probes (CA)n and 33.15. The morphological analyses also showed variation, but to a lesser degree and without statistical significance. The variation found at all levels and in all aspects is discussed with respect to caterpillar host-plants and geographical location. All host-plant populations of caterpillars showed very high levels of genetic variability. However, the population of caterpillars found on Sulla (Hedysarium coronarium) was significantly more variable than those found on Lotus and Lucerne when compared using DNA profiling. The sequences obtained from the two mtDNA regions also showed considerable variation, a great percentage of which was uninformative. This variation did not allude to any structuring of caterpillar populations with respect to host-plant or geographical location. H. armigera is genetically a very variable species which does not equate with any population structuring present in the host-plant or geographical populations investigated here. This study has greatly increased the general understanding of this insect, and has elucidated a portion of the genetic makeup, but not helped in the development any new control methods.

Although Argentine ant(Linepithema humile), a highly invasive ant species, has been in New Zealand for at least l4 years, little is known about their ecology and potential for invasion. Increasing spread and establishment of populations throughout New Zealand is disturbing because of the devastating impacts documented on native invertebrate biodiversity overseas. The primary aim of this study was to determine the impacts of Argentine ants on arthropods in native forest habitats in west Auckland. Pitfall traps at invaded and uninvaded sites were used to quantify ant and non-ant arthropod faunas. Argentine ants did not adversely affect native host ant communities. Moreover, two ant species appeared to be resistant to invasion. Argentine ant invasion reduced the abundance of a few orders of invertebrates while several taxa were more abundant in the presence of Argentine ants. Distribution and foraging activity of Argentine ant populations were monitored in this study from 2000-2003. Also, rate of spread was investigated to evaluate whether native forest habitats would be at risk from invasion. Measurements of foraging ant trails on monitored tree trunks revealed seasonal distribution patterns involving high activity in summer/autumn and low activity in winter/early spring. Argentine ants were found to be established primarily along the edge of the forest and did not invade into the interior of the forest during the study period. An Argentine ant poisoning operation on Tiritiri Matangi Island in January 2001 provided the opportunity to document the results of the eradication trial. In addition, pitfall traps placed at two treated sites and one untreated site were used to compare pre-poison and post-poison effects on ant and non-ant invertebrate communities. Fipronil baiting at 0.01% effectively reduced Argentine ants at the study sites and very few ants were observed in both tree count and pitfall trap recordings two months after poisoning. The invasion of Argentine ants on Tiritiri Matangi Island decimated native host ants and no recovery was detected throughout the study. Several groups of invertebrates appeared to benefit from the removal of Argentine ants while a few showed no detectable changes. Conservation implications resulting from the findings of this study are discussed Also, potential future research involving Argentine ants are outlined.

Aphidius ervi Haliday is a cosmopolitan parasitoid species of several major aphid pests on economically important crops. Prior to this research, little information was available on its reproductive behaviour. Emergence of A. ervi peaks during the first few hours of the photophase with males being protandrous. Females become sexually mature earlier than males and oviposit primarily in the photophase. Aphids parasitised in their early instars die before reproduction but those parasitised in later instars produce a limited number of progeny. Females prefer aphids of 3- to 5-d-old over the younger and older aphids for oviposition. Females ovipositing in 4- to 7-d-old aphids have more fitness gains in terms of progeny body size and egg load at emergence. Fertilised eggs are more likely deposited in large hosts and unfertilised eggs in small ones. Large individuals have greater longevity, large males father more progeny, and large females have higher fecundity, parasitism and greater ability in host searching. However, with increasing body size females gain more than males in longevity and fecundity but males gain more than females in the number of female progeny. Males can inseminate up to nine females and they carry about 82% effective sperm at emergence and replenish about 18% sperm during their adult life. Females adjust the oviposition and sex allocation strategies in response to increasing host density with higher number of aphids parasitised at higher host densities and lower proportion of female progeny produced at lower host densities. Males play an active role in mating behaviour. Males having mating experience, and being large or younger, respond to females more quickly and perform better courtships resulting in higher mating success. Males prefer larger and younger females for mating probably because the latter have greater reproductive potential. Males optimize the use of their sperm based on the availability of their sperm and the reproductive status (age) of females. The switchingoff of female receptivity of male mating attempt after the mating is a gradual process. Some females accept the second males within 1 minute since the termination of the first mating. The shorter mating period in the second mating suggests that females remate probably due to the gradual process of switching-off of female receptivity rather than the insufficient sperm transformation during the first mating. Males prolong their mating duration in male-biased operational sex ratio to reduce the probability of female remating.