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The Bionomics and Morphology of Brenthia leptocosma Meyrick (Lep., Glyphipterygidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. R. Williams
J. R. Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture, Mauritius.
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Extract

Brenthia leptocosma is a Microlepidopteron which feeds upon the Boraginaceous bush, Cordia macrostachya. This plant, since its accidental introduction into Mauritius about 1900, has become a pest of considerable agricultural importance. Other food-plants are C. myxa, C. abyssinica and C. holstii, which are all unimportant trees. B. leptocosma has been recorded only from Mauritius. It is not likely to be indigenous for it is restricted to Cordia species, none of which are considered to be native to Mauritius.

The morphology and biology of the various stages are described.

The distribution of B. leptocosma is that of its food-plants: it is extremely numerous in all regions below about 1,500 feet, which is the upper limit for C. macrostachya. The abundance of the moth is due to the excessive growth of C. macrostachya. Owing to its mode of life, it is of no value as a controlling agent of C. macrostachya.

Larval and pupal parasites are recorded.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , February 1951 , pp. 629 - 635
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1951

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References

Hinton, H. E. (1946). On the homology and nomenclature of the setae of lepidopterous larvae, with some notes on the phylogeny of the Lepidoptera. —Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond., 97, pp. 1–37, 24 figs.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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