Larva feeding

Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus simplex). Isely and Schwardt (16) who worked with this insect from 1930 to 1933, inclusive, state, The rice water weevil is the most important insect pest of rice in Arkansas. It seems likely that this statement also applies to most of the other rice-producing areas of the southern states. Although the adult weevils feed to a considerable extent on rice leaves, the principal injury is caused by the larvae feeding on the rice roots. Under conditions of heavy infestations practically all the roots are destroyed approximately 4 to 5 weeks from the time of the first flooding of the fields. Normally, even under such conditions, the rice is not killed and when the larvae have matured and ceased feeding, the plants produce a new set of roots and will still produce a crop. The severe setback given the plants during this period naturally results in a marked reduction in yield. 

Some eaterpillars, beetle grubs, and fly larvae feed on developing fruits birds and wasps (shown) feed on ripening fruit. Damage is usually limited, but the soiled fruit ean be unpalatable, and other infeetions may enter the wounds. 

Adults of this flying insect are A in (6 mm) long and resemble small horseflies. They lay eggs in soil near, or occasionally on, host plants. The legless white larvae feed on roots. Damage is usually worse in late spring and early summer, but a second and even third... 

Symptoms On corn, the larvae feed on fresh silks, then move down the ears, eating kernels and leaving trails of excrement as they go. Early and late cultivars are most affected. On tomatoes (where the larvae are called tomato fruitworms), the larvae burrow into ripe fruits, eat buds, and chew large holes in leaves. 

Symptoms Southern corn rootworms feed on corn roots, often killing young plants and weakening older ones. Striped cucumber beetle larvae feed on the roots of squash-family plants only, killing or stunting the plants. Adults of both species feed on leaves, stems, flowers, and fruit of squashes and other crops. 

Symptoms Young larvae feed on corn leaves and tassels and beneath husks, damaging the ears. Older larvae burrow in corn stalks and ears damaged stalks may break. Larvae also tunnel in the stems or pods of beans, onions, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, and other crops. 

Symptoms During spring and summer, the beetles eat small holes in leaves and stems. A severe attack will check growth and kill young plants. Damage is always worse in dry weather. Larvae feed on plant roots, or in leaf mines. 

Susceptible plants Adults eat flowers and skeletonize leaves of a broad range of plants the plants may be completely defoliated. Larvae feed on roots of lawn grasses and garden plants. 

Symptoms Adults and larvae feed on the undersides of leaves, leaving lacy-looking patches on the leaf surface. Severely defoliated plants may be killed. 

Symptoms Larvae feed on developing fruit, causing segments of the berry to become shriveled and hardened. 

Adult sawflies are small, inconspicuous, dark-bodied flies up to Vz in (1 cm) long. The larvae, which damage plants, vary in color from cream to green and brown and resemble moth or butterfly caterpillars. They range in size from /2 to 1% in (1.5-3 cm) long. (See also Caterpillars, for comparison.) The larvae feed on leaves, stems, and fruit of a wide range of plants. If infestation is severe, the plant is often reduced to a skeleton. See Apple sawfly. 

Ladybugs Small, round, colorful beetles blue-yellow striped larva Feed on aphids, mites, scale and many insect eggs... 

Plate 7.1. Natural history of Utetheisa omatrix (left panel). Adult male (top) larva feeding on seedpod of Crotalaria mucronata (middle) adult male courting a female (bottom). The yellow genitalic coremata are partially inflated and thrust toward the female. Natural history of Cosmosoma myrodora (right panel). Adult male resting on leaf of the larval host plant Mikania scandens (top) larva (middle) male courting female (bottom). The flocculent has been released and forms a cloud around the pair. 

Figure 12.5 Utetheisa ornatrix. A Male (above) stroking its everted coremata against female during courtship. B Larva feeding on seed pod of its natural, pyrrolizidine alkaloid-containing food plants (Crotalaria spectabilis). C Scanning electronmicrograph of abdominal tip of male, showing coremata in everted (left) and retracted condition. [Bar = 1 mm A and C from Eisner, 1980].

Nursery pollination systems are examples of reciprocal mutualism between pollinators and plants, in which the female pollinators oviposit on the ovaries of plants and the hatched larvae feed on pollinated fruits and seeds. At least 13 nursery pollination systems have been identified.88 Floral volatiles significantly contribute to attracting... 

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