• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.203-208
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate Geometridae (Lepidoptera) species as pests and the damage they cause in citrus orchards in Jeju, Korea. Seven geometridae species occurred in citrus orchards: Ascotis selenaria, Ectropis excellens, Menophra senilis, Biston panterinaria, Ourapteryx nivea, Odontopera arida and Hypomecis punctinalis. Among them, A. selenaria was most abundant, followed by E. excellens and M. senilis. Most Geometridae larvae fed on citrus leaves, but A. selenaria larvae ate fruits and leaves. Fruit damage of Citrus unshiu appeared as gnawed scars caused by young larvae feeding on fruit surface. Fruit damage on Shiranui fruits appeared as a wide hole or deep scars caused by feeding by mature larvae (6th instar). Citrus leaves damage due to Geometridae larvae was high during May to June. Fruit damage started in late June as the spring-shoots of citrus hardened and increased sharply in late July. In the field experiment, fruit damage in the late season reached 4.2% in both 2008 and 2009 and reached 5.2% in 2010. In citrus orchards, A. selenaria larvae started to appear in mid-May and their populations peaked in mid June, late July, and early to mid-September. Adult males of A. selenaria had a maximum peak in mid-May, and two other peaks in early to late July and late August to early September. A. selenaria male adults were collected in a pheromone traps constantly throughout Jeju Island.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.243-248
• /
• 2013

This study was conducted to understand the settlement process of Ascotis selenaria larvae into citrus orchards with respect to oviposition site and analysis of the spatial distribution pattern of the larvae. A. selenaria eggs were not found on citrus trees in field and green house, but not on citrus trees in the field. A. selenaria larvae showed a significant clump distribution in the greenhouse. In the open citrus field, the index of dispersion was around 1.0 in most cases, with a weak clumping degree. However, the d-statistic was between -1.96 and 1.96, indicating a statistically significant random distribution. In addition, the Green's index (a clumping index) was very low in all cases, even though the clump distribution was accepted. for most samples, the probability distribution of larval frequency in the field satisfied the probability distribution functions of Poisson (random pattern) and the negative binomial (clump pattern) distribution. In addition, the temporal distribution of the larvae in the open field showed a pattern which was formed by colonizers from outside oviposition sites. Further, the difference in larval spatial distribution between field and greenhouse orchards was discussed.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.50 no.1
• /
• pp.55-63
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to develop an artificial diet for the mugwort looper, Ascotis selenaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), which is an insect pest to leaves of citrus (Citrus unshiu). Corn and soybean powder were selected as main nutrient sources for larvae of A. selenaria after several diets consisted of wheat germ, corn, kidney bean and/or soybean were tested for larval development and survival. A higher amount of the main nutrients in the diet increased the larval survivorship. Addition of yeast and cholesterol in diet increased the larval survivorship. Finally the composition of diet was decided as followings; corn 100 g, soybean 100 g agar 25 g, Brewers' yeast 30 g, cholesterol 0.5 g, Vanderzant vitamin mixture 2 g, Wesson's salt mixture 2 g, sorbic acid 2 g, ascorbic acid 2 g, and methyl-4-hydroxybenzoate 2.5 g, and distilled water 1 liter. Development periods of larvae and pupae, survival rate and fecundity of A. selenaria reared on the diet were not significantly different with those on the host plant, citrus leaves. Larvae of early instars were reared in a group, while larvae of later instars (5-6th) were reared individually. Adult mating was conducted in a plastic cage and an oilpaper covered with a gauze was provided as an oviposition site.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.53 no.3
• /
• pp.231-237
• /
• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the pest species and their damage on Asparagus officinalis. Field surveys were conducted in asparagus greenhouse in Jeju, for four years from 2007 to 2010. Total of 16 pest species belonging to 5 orders were found as follows: Thrips tabaci, Thrips hawaiiensis, Adoxophyes honmai, Spodoptera litura, Spodoptera exigua, Helicoverpa armigera, Mamestra brassicae, Ascotis selenaria, Ectropis excellens, Geisha distinctissima, Aphis gossypii, Myzus persicae, Anomala albopilosa, Crioceris quatuordecimpunctata, Acusta despecta sieboldiana and Deroceras reticulatum. Among them, T. tabaci frequently occurred and damaged asparagus plants during the whole growing seasons. C. quatuordecimpunctata and snails caused severe damages on asparagus shoots in spring harvest season. In mid-late seasons, aphids and lepidopteran species occurred and attacked asparagus plants. Of the lepidopteran pests, S. litura, S exigua and H. armigera belonging to Noctuidae occurred moderately and fed on asparagus plants. And the pest control strategy in asparagus cultivation was discussed based on the present results.