Notes on the oviposition preferences of Uresiphita maorialis (Felder & Rogenhofer) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) on three Sophora species in laboratory conditions

Abstract

Between 2008 and 2009, and as part of my PhD studies, I carried out a number of short experiments to observe oviposition preferences of the kowhai moth, U. maorialis, on three species of Sophora plants of common occurrence in Wellington urban gardens. The results of such experiments indicate that U. maorialis females prefer Sophora microphylla and S. tetraptera as oviposition substrates when simultaneously confronted with the three choices. Sophora prostrata does not seem to be an oviposition substrate for the female moths. Regardless of the plant species, the adaxial surface of the leaflet was the preferred area to oviposit egg clusters. These results provide preliminary insights that may help to understand the presence of high loads of larvae on individuals of S. tetraptera and S. microphylla normally seen in urban gardens in the Wellington city area.