POPULATION BIOLOGY OF ORANGESTRIPED OAKWORM (LEPIDOPTERA, SATURNIIDAE) IN SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA

Population biology of orange striped oakworm, Anisota senatoria (J. E. Smith), was studied in southeastern Virginia. Egg mass size was large r on Quercus palustris Muench., pin oak, compared with Q. phellos L., willow oak. Females produced a sex pheromone that attracted male moths . Blacklight traps were not effective for monitoring A. senatoria adul ts. Peak male emergence occurred on 2 July, 4 days earlier than female . The mean life span was 33.5 days in the laboratory. Pupal mortality was high and only 1.2% of the pupae produced moths in 1989 and 1990. P upae were capable of overwintering for two years in the field. The fir st report of a second generation from September - November was documen ted. Second generation A. senatoria oviposited more egg masses, infest ed more trees and had a longer development time compared with first ge neration. Large egg mass size, pupae that were capable of overwinterin g for two years and the presence of a second generation may partially explain the consistent A. senatoria populations that have occurred in southeastern Virginia.