Journal of Entomological Science (2012) 47, 316-327

N.H. Ellis, S.J. Fleischer, M.L. Evenden and L.A. Hull (2012)
Developmental and behavioral effects and retention of incremental rates of rubidium fed to Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in dietary medium
Journal of Entomological Science 47 (4), 316-327
Abstract: The effects of rubidium chloride were characterized on immature and adult Grapholita molesta (Busck) in an effort to determine its suitability as a label to mark, release and recapture this species in field-based dispersal studies. Neonate G. molesta (Busck) larvae were fed lima bean-based diet enriched with 0, 600, 3,000 or 6,000 mg RbCI/L liquid diet (ppm). Both male and female adult G. molesta were successfully marked at the 3 highest concentrations. Increasing concentrations did not alter pupal mass or larva-to-adult development (first instar to adult death), but adult longevity decreased in response to increasing Rb concentrations in diet. All males and 83.3% of females reared on diet with 6,000 ppm RbCI retained a detectable Rb signature through 168 h post eclosion. Labeled males were more likely to exhibit stationary zig-zag flight prior to flying upwind to a sex pheromone lure in a wind tunnel. These experiments demonstrate that rubidium chloride may be used to label immature G. molesta for subsequent release and recapture without significant detrimental effects to the insects.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Grapholita molesta