Neotropical Entomology (2005) 34, 169-175

Rebecca de S. Bittencourt-Rodrigues and Fernando S. Zucoloto (2005)
Effect of host age on the oviposition and performance of Ascia monuste Godart (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)
Neotropical Entomology 34 (2), 169-175
Abstract: Ascia monuste Godart, known as the kale caterpillar, has a specialized diet on Brassicaceae and represents one of the main herbivores of this family in the Neotropical region. The objective of the present study was to determine the performance and oviposition preference of A. monuste for common kale Brassica oleracea (Brassicaceae, var. acephala) of different ages. The parameters used to assess performance were time to pupation and emergence, emergence rate, digestive indices, relative consumption and growth rates, number of eggs per female, hatching rate, and weight of the imagoes. Chemical and physical properties of young and old kale leaves were determined. In general, caterpillars feeding on new leaves showed better performance than those feeding on old leaves. However, no significant difference in the number of eggs per female was observed, indicating a strategy of compensation, as old leaves contain a lower amount of nitrogen and are harder than young leaves. A. monuste females prefer to lay eggs on young leaves.
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Database assignments for author(s): Fernando Sérgio Zucoloto

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.
	Ascia monuste	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Brazil (south)