Distribution, development biology and behavior of <em>Dacus persicus</em> associated with <em>Calotropis gigantea</em> in Sri Lanka
<em>Calotropis gigantea</em> (Crown flower, Giant milkweed or Wara) is a native medicinal plant in Sri Lanka. It is recorded as an invasive plant in Australia, Brazil, USA, etc. <em>Dacus persicus</em> is recorded as a highly destructive monophagous pest of <em>C. gigan...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Ceylon Journal of Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://cjs.sljol.info/articles/7902 |
| _version_ | 1811248437455224832 |
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| author | W. P. S. N. Wijeweera K. A. D. W. Senaratne K. Dhileepan |
| author_facet | W. P. S. N. Wijeweera K. A. D. W. Senaratne K. Dhileepan |
| author_sort | W. P. S. N. Wijeweera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <em>Calotropis gigantea</em> (Crown flower, Giant milkweed or Wara) is a native medicinal plant in Sri Lanka. It is recorded as an invasive plant in Australia, Brazil, USA, etc. <em>Dacus persicus</em> is recorded as a highly destructive monophagous pest of <em>C. gigantea</em> in Sri Lanka. Larvae of <em>D. persicus</em> feed on developing fruits and seeds and reduce the reproductive output of the plant significantly making it a suitable candidate for biocontrol. Therefore, the present study was aimed to investigate the distribution and reproductive biology of <em>Dacus persicus</em> to assess the potential as a biocontrol agent for <em>Calotropis</em> species. <em>D. persicus</em> distributed in six provinces in Sri Lanka. The duration of mating and ovipositing of <em>D. persicus</em> was 54 and 92 minutes, respectively. It laid eggs in the seed chamber of developing fruits and the fruit size is highly correlated (p < 0.001, r = 0.990) with the number of laid eggs. Only one egg cluster of <em>D. persicus</em> found within a single fruit having 18.5 (± 0.85) eggs per cluster and the eggs hatched in 3 days. The duration of larval and pupal stages for <em>D. persicus</em> were 24 and 12 days, respectively. These results provide essential information needed in adopting <em>D. persicus</em> as a biocontrol agent of <em>C. gigantea</em>. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:26:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-52d6f346ad144b758e0ae435362552cc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2513-2814 2513-230X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T15:26:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ceylon Journal of Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-52d6f346ad144b758e0ae435362552cc2022-12-22T03:27:13ZengFaculty of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri LankaCeylon Journal of Science2513-28142513-230X2021-09-0150321922610.4038/cjs.v50i3.79025872Distribution, development biology and behavior of <em>Dacus persicus</em> associated with <em>Calotropis gigantea</em> in Sri LankaW. P. S. N. Wijeweera0K. A. D. W. Senaratne1K. Dhileepan2University of Ruhuna, MataraEcosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, QueenslandEcosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, Queensland<em>Calotropis gigantea</em> (Crown flower, Giant milkweed or Wara) is a native medicinal plant in Sri Lanka. It is recorded as an invasive plant in Australia, Brazil, USA, etc. <em>Dacus persicus</em> is recorded as a highly destructive monophagous pest of <em>C. gigantea</em> in Sri Lanka. Larvae of <em>D. persicus</em> feed on developing fruits and seeds and reduce the reproductive output of the plant significantly making it a suitable candidate for biocontrol. Therefore, the present study was aimed to investigate the distribution and reproductive biology of <em>Dacus persicus</em> to assess the potential as a biocontrol agent for <em>Calotropis</em> species. <em>D. persicus</em> distributed in six provinces in Sri Lanka. The duration of mating and ovipositing of <em>D. persicus</em> was 54 and 92 minutes, respectively. It laid eggs in the seed chamber of developing fruits and the fruit size is highly correlated (p < 0.001, r = 0.990) with the number of laid eggs. Only one egg cluster of <em>D. persicus</em> found within a single fruit having 18.5 (± 0.85) eggs per cluster and the eggs hatched in 3 days. The duration of larval and pupal stages for <em>D. persicus</em> were 24 and 12 days, respectively. These results provide essential information needed in adopting <em>D. persicus</em> as a biocontrol agent of <em>C. gigantea</em>.https://cjs.sljol.info/articles/7902calotropis gigantea, dacus persicus, invasive species, biocontrol |
| spellingShingle | W. P. S. N. Wijeweera K. A. D. W. Senaratne K. Dhileepan Distribution, development biology and behavior of <em>Dacus persicus</em> associated with <em>Calotropis gigantea</em> in Sri Lanka Ceylon Journal of Science calotropis gigantea, dacus persicus, invasive species, biocontrol |
| title | Distribution, development biology and behavior of <em>Dacus persicus</em> associated with <em>Calotropis gigantea</em> in Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Distribution, development biology and behavior of <em>Dacus persicus</em> associated with <em>Calotropis gigantea</em> in Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Distribution, development biology and behavior of <em>Dacus persicus</em> associated with <em>Calotropis gigantea</em> in Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distribution, development biology and behavior of <em>Dacus persicus</em> associated with <em>Calotropis gigantea</em> in Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Distribution, development biology and behavior of <em>Dacus persicus</em> associated with <em>Calotropis gigantea</em> in Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | distribution development biology and behavior of em dacus persicus em associated with em calotropis gigantea em in sri lanka |
| topic | calotropis gigantea, dacus persicus, invasive species, biocontrol |
| url | https://cjs.sljol.info/articles/7902 |
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