Biology and host plants of the Water Canna Bagworm Moth, Pteroma pendula (Joannis) (Lepidoptera: Psychidae)

Abstract

The water canna bagworm moth, Pteroma pendula (Joannis) (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) is a leaf eating caterpillar characterized by possession of bag, which it builds out of tough silk embedded with pieces of dried plant material such as leaves and small twigs. Its important pest of various ornamental plantnas a wide range of host plants. Adult mating takes place during the night. The mating period was 30-35 min. Female lay groups were deposited in clusters of 110-215 eggs within the bag. The larvae and pupa live in portable bag. The pupa develops within the adult, the apterous female remains within the bag where it’s fertilized by the male. Egg incubation period was 6.13-7.21 days. Larval period was 30.21-35.38 days. The pupa period was 10.04-10.50 days. Male was 5.13-6.04 days and female was 5.17-6.13 days. The larval host plant of P. pendula included Thalia geniculate, T. dealbata, Calathea crotalifera, Nelumbo nucifera, Roystonea regia, Latania lontariodes and Canna hydrid