THE SEASONAL ABUNDANCE AND FEEDING DAMAGE OF HYPSIPYLA-GRANDELLA (LEPIDOPTERA, PYRALIDAE) IN SEED CAPSULES OF SWIETENIA-MAHAGONI IN FLORIDA

Larvae of Hypsipyla grandella attacked the seed capsules of West Indie s mahoganies, Swietenia mahagoni Jacquin, in spring (March - April) af ter the capsules dehisced and the seeds were exposed, which occurred p rior to flushing. One to 5 larvae occurred per capsule. The seeds appa rently were a preferred food source and 50-96% of the seeds in capsule s examined in June were damaged by larvae. Seed capsules during their period of expansion from early summer to winter were virtually free of borer attack, and during this period neither hardened-off shoots nor persistent capsule cores from previous seasons served as food sources for more than a few larvae. The hardness of the capsule valves is appa rently a factor in preventing penetration by the larvae. Although the persistence of seeds in the capsules is transitory, and the availabili ty of capsules more Limited and more variable than that of shoots, the seed capsule contents appeared to be preferred as a food source, as h igher percentages of dehisced seed capsules than new shoots mere attac ked when both were simultaneously available. The damage by H. grandell a to mahogany seeds impacts regeneration of this tree species.