Biological studies on a mesquite leaf tier, Tetralopha euphemella, in central Texas [Insect for biological control of mesquite, Prosopis spp.]

The larvae of T. euphemella Hulst are leaf tiers on the foliage of mesquite, Prosopis spp. Larvae completed their entire development on honey mesquite, P. glandulosa Torrey var. glandulosa , western honey mesquite, p. g. var. torreyana (L Benson) M. C. Johnston, velvet mesquite, P. velutina Wooten, and white mesquite, P. alba Grisebach, but not on screwbean mesquite, P. pubescens Bentham. Adults emerged from overwintering pupae in April and May. Populations of larvae in the field were always low, and larvae caused little damage to mesquite trees. Parasitism of larvae in the field reached 20% during the last two instars, mostly from tachinid flies. Each larva ate ca. 26 cm super(2) of leaf surface (about one mesquite leaf) during its life. In the laboratory, adults laid an average of 152 eggs each. Four days were required for the egg stage, 27 days for the larva, 11 days for the pupa, and 3 days for adults to reach peak oviposition, for a generation time of ca. 45 days.