Patterns of Variation in Some Quantitative Characters of Malacosoma disstria (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

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Abstract
Malacosoma disstria Hübner egg masses were collected from 2 locations and reared in the laboratory on prepared diet. Measurements of 6 characters were tested for significant differences at 4 levels of organization. Populations differed in larval survival, sex ratio, and development time but not in hatchability and pupal weight. Sibling groups were significantly different for all characters except fecundity. Males and females differed in development time and pupal weight. Eggs and weights were significantly correlated in all but one group, but their relation varied between populations. This paper reports the first evidence for genetic determination of quantitative characters in the forest tent caterpillar.