MORTALITY IN LARVAE OF EUXOA MESSORIA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) COLLECTED FROM THE TOBACCO AREA OF ONTARIO

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Abstract
Larvae of the dark-sided cutworm were collected from trap plants of tobacco set in a field of rye at Delhi, Ont., in 1969. They were reared individually to pupation to determine the degree of survival and the causes of mortality from the fourth instar to maturity. About 36% pupated and the greatest amount of mortality was caused by insect parasitism, a microsporidial disease, and bacterial infection. Fungus and virus diseases were virtually absent. As adult females are capable of laying a large number of eggs, mortality in eggs and young larvae must reach at least 98% to maintain a stable population. Introduction of virus pathogens to attack larvae might well be expected to result in regulating the population at a lower density.

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