Studies on some biological and ecological aspects of papilio polites l. (lepidoptera: papilionidae) and papilio demoleus l. (lepidoptera: papilionidae) on rutaceous host plants

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Date
2009-07
Authors
Suwarno
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Abstract
Studies on the biological and ecological aspects of Papilio demoleus L. and Papilio polytes L. (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) were carried out both in the laboratory and in the field. The suitability of four rutaceous species [Citrus aurantifolia [(Christm) Swingle], Citrus hystrix DC., Citrus reticulata Blanco and Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengle] as host plants for P. polytes was compared Females of P. polytes preferred C. reticulata and C. aurantifolia (P < 0.01) as oviposition sites. Murraya koenigii was the least preferred. More eggs were oviposited on the undersides of leaves of C. reticulata and C. aurantifolia (F3,36. .=.. 182.25, P < 0.01) . Younger instar larvae (instar 1-3) displayed higher selectivity for food. The larval performance of P. polytes was better when reared on Citrus spp. than on M koenigii. The shortest life cycle of P. polytes was observed on C. reticulata (F3,ll6 = 4.25; P < 0.01). The pupal and adult body lengths as well as adult wing span were the longest (Fpupa= 4.99 and Fbodylength = 3.47; Fwingspan= 2.90; P < 0.05) on C. hystrix. Studies on life table and population dynamics of P. demoleus and P. polytes in the field were carried out for a year, in the dry season (DS), secondary wet season (SWS) and primary wet season (PWS). Survival of both species was the highest in the PWS (3.20% and 3.93%, respectively) and the lowest in the DS (1.74% and 3.08%, respectively). The survivorship of P. demoleus was lower than P. polytes in all seasons. The k-value of the fifth instar larva of both species was the highest. Except in the egg and first larval instar (Kruskal-Wallis test, P = 0.05), the development of immature stages was not influenced by season. Their abundance however, varied among seasons and was the lowest in the DS. Predators Oxyopes quadrifasciatus was the most important mortality agent for young larval instars and Sycanus dichotomus for older larval instars. The number of parasitized and predated eggs as well as larvae depended strongly on the density of the immature stages. The abiotic factor weakly influenced the abundance of the immatures during the PWS and considered negligible during other seasons.
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Ecological aspects , Papilio demoleus L. (lepidoptera: papilionidae)
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