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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Newark, Delaware » Beneficial Insects Introduction Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #146512
Title: FOOD PLANTS AND LIFE CYCLE OF LYMANTRIA BANTAIZANA MATSUMURA (LEPIDOPTERA: LYMANTRIIDAE) IN NORTHERN HONSHU, JAPAN

Author
item GOTOH, TADAO - FOREST MORIOKA JAPAN
item Schaefer, Paul
item DOI, NOBUO - IWATE JAPAN

Submitted to: Entomological Science (Japan)
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/18/2003
Publication Date: 6/20/2004
Citation: Gotoh, T., Schaefer, P.W., Doi, N. 2004. Food plants and life cycle of Lymantria bantaizana Matsumura (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) in northern Honshu, Japan. Entomological Science (Japan). 7(2):125-131.

Interpretive Summary: A Japanese moth, Lymantria bantaizana, is related to the gypsy moth and heretofore was very poorly known. In recent seasons, we have discovered what food plants it is dependent upon and how is overwinters in the larval stages and not as eggs as does the gypsy moth. Our work further shows this moth to be rather exceptional, feeding only on walnut trees, and is clearly not polyphagous as is gypsy moth. It does not however appear to be a serious pest on walnuts. Our findings shed new light on this poorly known moth species and should now permit further studies into the behavior and biology of L. bantaizana, which occurs naturally in Japan, Korea and China.

Technical Abstract: Food plants and life cycle of Lymantria bantaizana were investigated in Iwate Prefecture, northern Honshu, Japan from 2000 to 2002. Eggs laid in July hatched in ca 10 days. Hatched larvae fed on only Juglans mandshurica var. sachaliensis, J.regia var.orientalis and Pterocarya rhazfolia of Juglandaceae in laboratory rearing. Larvae were not able to continuously develop feeding on P. rhoifolia in field rearing, while the plants of Juglans enabled the moth to complete its life cycle. Differing from other Lymantria species in Japan, the moth overwintered not in the egg stage but as 5th or 6th instar larva. L. bantaizana had 8 larval stages both in female and male. The moth emergence occurred mostly in July in the riverine forest in Iwate Pref.