Revista Brasileira de Entomologia (2003) 47, 169-174

Patrícia Diniz Catta-Preta and Fernando Sérgio Zucoloto (2003)
Oviposition behavior and performance aspects of Ascia monuste (Godart,1919) (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) on kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala)
Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 47 (2), 169-174
Abstract: Host part selection by ovipositing females of Ascia monuste (Godart, 1919) (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) on kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) was determined in greenhouse and field. Performance of offspring (larval period, efficiency of food utilization, number of eggs/female and others) was investigated under laboratory conditions. In the field, the number of A. monuste egg clutches on the apical and medium parts of kale leaves was greater than on the basal part. In greenhouse, A. monuste exhibited a strong preference for the apical part of kale leaves for ovipositing. The best results on food utilization indices, pupal mass and female wing size were obtained with the leaf apical part. This part of kale leaves exhibited the highest nitrogen and protein concentration and the smallest water content, when compared to the other leaf parts. However, the apical part of the leaves seems not to provide ovipositing females with enough protection against birds, making them easy preys in the field. We suggest that good relationship between oviposition preference and performance of offspring was hindered by predation in field conditions.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Fernando Sérgio Zucoloto

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

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Ascia monuste	Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)	Brazil (south)