Acta Entomologica Sinica (2009) 52, 228-233

Yin-Bo Xiao, Jian-Hua Zhou, Yan Liu, De-Kui Zhang and Bo Feng (2009)
[Morphological and biological observations on Stomphastis thraustica Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), a leaf miner of Jatropha curcas]
Acta Entomologica Sinica 52 (2), 228-233
Abstract: A leaf miner of Jatropha curcas L., Stomphastis thraustica Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), was newly found in China. The morphology, development and life history of the pest were studied both in fields and laboratory. The color, width and length of the pest at each stage were reported in details. The 95.54 percent of the larvae (n=426) climbs out to make cocoon from 10:00 am to 18:00 pm. The 89.19 percent of the eclosion (n=111) takes place from 20:00 pm to 6:00 am. Mating occurs in the early morning and will lasts 30-210 minutes. The 87.53 percent of the eggs are laid during the 20:00 pm to 6:00 am. The adult likes to oviposit in the concave near the leaf nervure. The 66.77 percent (n=8 266) of the eggs are laid on the back of the leaf. Each female can lay 60.03 eggs on average. The moth appears throughout the year in Panzhihua and has to endure the dry season in the adult from February to May. The moth has over ten generations per year in this region and the generations overlap. The development durations of different stages were investigated at natural temperature averaged 25.15°C in June in fields. The duratin of a whole generation is 18 to 20 days including 3 to 4 days for the egg stage, 1 day for the first instar, 1 to 2 days for the 2nd instar, 1 to 2 days for the 3rd instar, 1 to 2 days for the 4th instar, 2 to 3 days for the 5th instar, 1 day for prepupa, 4 to 6 days for pupa, and 1 day for preoviposition.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Chinese)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Stomphastis thraustica	Jatropha (crop)	China (south)