The Karoo is an arid inland plateau in the central and northeastern Cape Province of South Africa and is characterised by sparse, stunted vegetation. The vegetation is rich in species, and over large areas species of Pentzia, which are drought-resistant shrubs, are extremely abundant. These plants are food for stock (mainly sheep), and because the larvae of the Karoo caterpillar periodically occur in sufficient numbers to defoliate the plants, they assume pest status. Fully-fed Loxostege frustalis larvae construct cases in the soil beneath their food plants and they overwinter in these cases. A census of the numbers of larval cases accumulated in the soil, conducted from 1975 to 1980, showed that an expanded distribution of the pentzias is responsible for the periodic larval outbreaks. Further, alternate food plants are an important food supply for L. frustalis larvae when they disperse under crowded conditions The census data for L. frustalis were analysed by constructing partial life tables for the life-history period from case construction to moth emergence. The mortality of 'encased larvae' is useful for assessing the impact of the known L. frustalis natural enemies. The most important natural enemies were the braconids Chelonus curvimaculatus Cameron, Macrocentrus maraisi Nixon and the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin. The collective responses of all the natural enemies to the density of L. frustalis encased larvae was direct, but undercompensating, so that areas with more pentzias produced more L. frustais. Strategies for immediate measures to alleviate the Karoo caterpillar problem, and for future research, are discussed. It is concluded that reduction of pentzia populations to acceptable levels and/or supplementing pastures with non-host plants of L. frustalis offer the only practical solutions to the Karoo caterpillar problem. Biological control of L. frustalis is dismissed as an option for reducing the pest status of the Karoo caterpillar

The response to host plant variation shapes the long-term success of phytophagous insects. Two gall-forming tephritid flies, Urophora affinis and U. quadrifasciata, oviposit in flower buds of Centaurea diffusa and C. maculosa (Asteraceae). Females of both fly species chose among plants, among groups of buds on plants, and among buds. Among plant choices were correlated with buds per plant. Among bud choices corresponded to larval developmental requirements. Insect attack led to gall formation, bud abortion, and reduced seed production. Bud abortion, caused by probing females, limited gall densities. Increased densities of U. affinis females relative to oviposition sites led to more U. affinis galls, increased bud abortion, fewer U. quadrifasciata galls, and fewer seeds. A temporal refuge for seed production was observed. Plants compensated only slightly for aborted buds. Bud abortion may increase the search time between successful ovipositions. A simulation model based on this premise implied that bud abortion may dramatically reduce total gall formation. Plant quality was manipulated in an attempt to shift three population limiting factors. Plants responded to fertilization and watering with an increase in bud numbers. Except for two year-site-treatment combinations, galls per developed bud did not differ significantly between treatments. Treated plants did not differ in their propensity to abort buds. U. affinis larvae developed faster in fertilized plants. Among year comparisons showed that the density of buds available for oviposition was limited by precipitation, non-random insect attack, and, in the longer term, by the reduction in seed production due to fly attack. Bud densities, in turn, limited gall densities. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

No description available.

The European hazelnut, Corylus avellana L., was imported into the U.S. in the late 1800's and is now grown throughout the Willamette Valley in Oregon. A native species of hazelnut, C. cornuta Marshall, is a common shrub found in forested areas of the Pacific Northwest. Foliage of both C. avellana and C. cornuta was sampled using beating sheets. The objectives of the study were as follows: 1. To compile a complete list of the Coleoptera and Heteroptera fauna of both species of hazelnut. 2. To determine the amount of overlap across host plants. 3. To measure arthropod abundance and species diversity within functional groups across a forest-edge-orchard gradient. 4. To use ordination techniques to determine where peak abundance of individual taxa occur along the forest-edge-orchard gradient. One hundred and thirty-two species of Coleoptera and forty-nine species of Heteroptera were identified on Hazelnut foliage. The most abundant Heteroptera in the orchards studied is a newly introduced mirid predator, Malacocoris chlorizans (Panzer). There is a great deal of overlap between the two hazelnut species. Most differences are attributed to rare species. Diversity and abundance of predaceous Coleoptera and Heteroptera were severely hindered by IPM management practices, involving insecticide usage, within the orchards. However, the organic orchards retained high levels of diversity and abundance of predaceous Coleoptera and Heteroptera in the centers of the orchards. The organic orchards had higher diversity of phytophagous Coleoptera and Heteroptera as compared to IPM orchards, but the abundance of those insects was not different between the IPM and organic orchards. The ordinations of the Coloeptera data show that the peak abundances of individual species often shift along the forest-edge-orchard gradient over time and that the organic orchards retain peak abundances of predaceous Coleoptera even in late season. The ordinations of the Heteroptera data show that several mirid predators are at their peak abundances within the orchards of both IPM and organic orchards. / Graduation date: 2000

Bibliography: leaves 214-221 / viii, 221 leaves, [19] plates : ill., maps ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Plant Pathology, 1985

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1963 E74 / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / Botany / Master / Master of Philosophy

Includes bibliography

Biology of Scaptomyza apicalis Hardy (Diptera: Drosophilidae) was studied in relation to its host, meadowfoam, Limnanthes alba, a recent oil seed crop grown in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Populations of flies and larvae were monitored weekly over three consecutive crop-years beginning in 1996. Yellow sticky traps gave relative population estimates of adults. Absolute estimates of larval populations were derived using Berlese funnels to extract immatures from whole plant samples. Weather and crop phenology are key factors in population regulation. Meadowfoams, Limnanthes species, were the only observed hosts for S. apicalis in this study. This has four to five overlapping generations per year. Adults of a small founder population colonize commercial fields coincident with fall rains and seedling emergence. Females deposit eggs in or on plant tissue. Larvae mine leaves and stems. They also bore into crown tissue and flower buds later in the season. Second generation flies arising from the larvae of the founder population first appear in late winter. Successive generations peak during the rapid vegetative growth stage of meadowfoam (mid-April). A steady decline in adult and larval numbers occurs as daily temperatures rise and plants develop flower buds. Last flies are detected in early July when meadowfoam is harvested. Temperatures below 0�� Celsius during December were a key mortality factor for S. apicalis in 1998. Three often major weather components analyzed, accounted for up to 60 percent of the trap count variability. These components were temperature, solar radiation and relative humidity. S. apicalis larvae fed only on plants within the Limnanthes in feeding studies. They accepted nine native meadowfoams but with varying survival rates. The commercial meadowfoam cultivar, Floral, was the most suitable larval host. An increase in supplemental nitrogen fertilizer rates generally resulted in increased infestations of S. apicalis and decreased seed yields. / Graduation date: 2001

No description available.