Field biology and host range of a mesquite [Prosopis] looper, Semiothisa cyda (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), in central Texas

Larvae of the geometrid moth, Semiothisa cyda (Druce), fed only on the foliage of mesquite trees. Larvae developed completely and pupated only on four species of mesquite in tests (all in section Algarobia, series Chilensis, of the genus Prosopis ). Mortality of overwintering pupae in field cages was 72 to 80%. In the field, females emerged about 1 April and were followed by four generations of larvae, but populations were always low (maximum of ca. 20 per tree) and caused no apparent damage to the trees. Parasitism of larvae was 9 to 15%; major parasites were the tachinid Hesperomyia erythocera Brauer and Bergenstamm and the braconids Rogas spp.