Growth, development and survival of porina (Wiseana species) on selected native and exotic grass species in New Zealand
Porina (Wiseana spp.), are endemic insects that are major insect pests of pasture in New Zealand. Despite their impact on exotic pastures, porina are not known to cause significant damage in their native habitats. To improve management of porina in pastures it is important to determine why porina cause considerable damage in exotic pastures but not in their native habitats, and requires an understanding of their growth, survival and preference for native or exotic plant species. To date, the feeding behaviour of porina have not been studied in detail on native grasses, and there are also questions about porina larval development on native plant species. The growth rate and feeding behaviour of porina larvae were studied when supplied with foliage from several native and exotic plant species: Festuca actae, Acyphylla squarrosa, Poa cita, Chionochloa rubra, Phormium tenax, Lolium perenne × Lolium multiflorum and mixed grass species (which consist of fescue, ryegrass and weeds). Mortality, larval survival time, percent growth rate and the relative growth rate of larvae ranged from 12.5–75%, 96–177 days, 57–225% and 0.0057–0.0083 (gm/gm/day) respectively. This study confirmed the differential success of porina larval growth and development on native and exotic plant hosts that will have implications for individual fitness, population dynamics and potential management.
History
Publication date
2016-04-04Project number
- Non revenue
Language
- English
Does this contain Māori information or data?
- No