Home⇛Annals of Tropical Research⇛vol. 43 no. 2 (2021)

Biology of Tortoiseshell Beetle (Aspidomorpha miliaris Fabr.) on Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas Lam) and Its Relatives as Affected by Hosts’ Nutritional Profile

Erlinda A. Vasquez | Dilberto O. Ferraren | Luz G. Asio | Resa M. Dacera

 

Abstract:

Several insect pests attack the foliage of sweetpotato at different stages of crop growth which contribute to yield reduction. Weeds belonging to the same genera as the main host can act as alternate hosts of insect pests. The study evaluated the biology of tortoiseshell beetle in the laboratory at an ambient temperature of 27-30 C and 85-90% RH on sweetpotato ( ) o Ipomoea batatas as main host and four other Ipomoea species: three-lobe morning glory (I. triloba), beach morning glory (Ipes-caprae), swamp morning glory (I. aquatica), and fivefinger morning glory (I. pentaphylla Syn. I. cairica) as alternate hosts. The beetle underwent four developmental stages - egg, larva, pupa, and adult. It completed its development within 4-6 weeks from egg-laying to adult emergence of 26-40 days, an average of 27.55 to 39.01 days. The total development period of male and female A. miliaris on I. batatas, I. triloba, I. pes-caprae, I. aquatica, and I. pentaphylla were 27.55 and 30.72, 27.52 and 30.49, 29.94 and 35.06, 33.25 and 38.11, and 33.70 and 39.01 days, respectively. Adult longevity of males and females was longer on I. batatas and I. triloba, followed by I. aquatica), I. pentaphylla, and lastly, I. pes-caprae. The highest number of eggs laid was recorded in I. batatas (202.7), followed by I. triloba (173.2), I. pes-caprae (76.0), I. aquatica (71.7), and I. pentaphylla (59.7). The highest egg viability of more than 90% was recorded in I. batatas and I. triloba. Mortality occurred towards the later part of larval development, with the lowest mortality of 8.33% in I. batatas. The host plants ' high protein, N, P, and K contents influenced the shorter life cycle, higher reproductive rate, high percentage egg hatchability, lower mortality, and longer life span. Increased mortality and abnormal wet frass in I. pes-caprae could be accounted for by exceptionally high sugar content in the leaves and secondary metabolites present, especially in other host plants that may have insecticidal activity. Since was also able to complete A. miliaris its life cycle and reproduce on the four weed species, the insect continues to survive without sweetpotato. Any management strategy for this insect by destroying the Ipomoea weed hosts eliminates other sources of infestation in the field.



References:

  1. Amante V, Vasquez E, O’Sullivan J & Norton G. 2003. A field guide to sweetpotato problems in the Philippines. University of Queensland, Australia
  2. Awmack C and Leather S. 2002. Host plant quality and fecundity in herbivorous insects. Annual Review of Entomology 47:817-844
  3. Bala K, Sood AK, Pathania VS & Thakur S. 2018. Effect of plant nutrition in insect pest management: A review. Journal of Phamacognosy and Phytochemistry 7(4):2737-2742
  4. Blau WS. 1981. Life history variation in the black swallow-tail butterfly. Oecología 48(1):116-122
  5. Baltazar EP. 1970. Biological study of Aspidomorpha miliaris (Fabricius) (Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera), withe a consideration of its host range and natural enemies. Philippine Entomologist 1(5):365-377
  6. Bezemer TM, Harvey J & Cronin J. 2014. Response of native insect communities to invasive plants. Annual Review of Entomology 59(1):119-141
  7. Frost PC and Elser JJ. 2002. Growth reponse of littoral mayflies to the phosphorous content of their food. Ecology Letters 5(2):232-240
  8. Hartmann T. 2004. Plant derived secondary metabolites as defensive chemicals in herbivorous insects: a case study in chemical ecology. Planta 219(1):1-4 
  9. Honek A. 1993. Intraspecific variation in body size and fecundity in insects a general relationship. Oikos 66(3):483-492
  10. Jones DB. 1941. Factors for Converting Percentages of Nitrogen in Foods and Feeds into Percentages of Protein. United State Department of Agriculture, Washington D.C. Circular No. 183. Issued August 1931, slightly revised February 1941
  11. Mattson WJ. 1980. Herbivory in relation to plant nitrogen content. Annual Review of Ecological Systematics 11:119-161
  12. Meira EP, da Silva JM & David JP. 2012. Review of the genus Ipomoea: traditional uses, chemistry and biological activities. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia-brazilian Journal of Pharmacognosy 22:682-713
  13. Miah MI, Bhiya BA & Mohiuddin M. 1991. Some aspects of the biology of Aspidomorpha miliaris (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae). Bangladesh Journal of Entomolology 1(1):11-17
  14. Murphy J and Riley JP. 1962. A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Analytica Chimica Acta 27:31-36
  15. Mylavarapu RS and Kennelley ED. 2002. UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory (ESTL), Analytical Procedures and Training Manual, Circular 1248
  16. Nakamura Kand Abbas 1. 1987a. Preliminary life table of the spotted tortoise beetle, Aspidomorpha miliaris (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Sumatra. Researches on Population Ecology 29:229-236
  17. Nakamura K and Abbas I. 1987b. Long-term fluctuations in adult numbers and egg mortalities of the tortoise beetles, Aspidomorpha miliaris and A. sanctaecrucis, in Sumatra. Chrysomela 16:12-13
  18. Nakamura K, Abbas I & Hasyim A. 1989. Survivorship and fertility schedules of two Sumatran tortoise beetles, Aspidomorpha miliaris and A. sanctaecrucis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) under laboratory conditions. Researches on Population Ecology 31:25- 34
  19. Nelson DW and Sommers LE. 1973. Determination of Total Nitrogen in Plant Material. Agronomy Journal 65(2):109-112
  20. Perkins MC, Wood HA, Harrison JF & Elser JJ. 2004. Dietary phosphorous affects the growth of larval Manduca sexta. Archive on Insect Biochemistry and Physiology 55(3):153- 168
  21. Saeed Q, Ahmed F & Saeed S. 2017. Development and survival of Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on alternate crops in crotton cropping patter, with implications to integrated pest management. Environmental Entomology 46(3):595-601
  22. Tsai HJ, Cheng CL & Hsiao WF. 2012. Preliminary studies of life history of Tortoise beetle, Aspidomorpha miliaris (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Plant Protection Bulletin 54(3):77-90
  23. Vasquez EA and Sajise CE. 1987. Pests of sweetpotato: insects, mites and diseases. PRIS and PRCRTC. Visayas State College of Agriculture 
  24. Visanuvidol L and Baertram S. 2011. How dietary phophorus availability during development influences condition and life history traits of the cricket, Acheta domesticas. Journal of Insect Science 11(1):1-17
  25. Wang Z, Wang X, Li C, Xia Z & Li S. 2018. Effect of dietary protein and carbohydrates on survival and growth in Larvae of the Henosepilachna vigintiooctopunctata (F.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Journal of Insect Science 18(4):1-7
  26. Zuharah W, Dieng H, Rami A, Thiagaletchumi M & Fadzly N. 2016. Evaluation of sublethal effects of Ipomoea caraica Linn extract on life history traits of dengue vectors. Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo 58:44

Tools


Copyright © 2025  KITE Digital Educational Solutions |  Exclusively distributed by CE-Logic