Behavioural assay of a newly identified lepidopteran, Pexicopia tungabhadrai (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) along with a first report of larval diapause

What is it about?

Study examined the ovipositional and olfactory preferences of gravid Fruit Pod Seed Moths (FPSM) in both choice and non-choice settings. In terms of olfactory preferences, FPSM neonates strongly preferred Abutilon indicum under choice conditions, showing nil interest in other hosts. Under non-choice conditions, both neonates and final instar larvae thrived on A. indicum but refrained from feeding on other hosts or diets, leading to neonate mortality. Remarkably, neonate FPSM exhibited an absolute preference for A. indicum seeds, being unable to feed on abutilon seed diets or green cotton bolls, resulting in starvation-induced mortality. Majority of the final instar larvae successfully fed, enter pupation and completed their life cycle on A. indicum seeds but majority entered diapause when exposed to other hosts or diets as compared to A. indicum at a temperature of 21°C, relative humidity of 60 per cent and photoperiod of 12: 10 hours (light: dark). Cage studies confirmed FPSM's strong preference for A. indicum, allowing for successful larval feeding and adult emergence. However, FPSM failed to establish on cotton green bolls, underscoring their exclusive reliance on A. indicum as a host. These findings illuminate the intricate host preferences and behaviour of FPSM, underscoring the pivotal role of A. indicum in their life cycle and helps for further research to exploit FPSM as an agent for biological weed control of A. indicum.

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