The bionomics of Erannis ankeraria Staudinger

[Objectives]To ascertain the life cycle,behavior,distribution of pupae and biological characters of Erannis ankeraria Staudinger.[Methods]Laboratory and field research at Jinin,Inner Mongolia.[Results]E.ankeraria had one generation a single year and overwintered as egg on pine cones.Larvae were present from early May to July.Pupae occurred from mid-late June to early-mid September.Adults emerged from September to October.The larval stage was about(19.96±0.86) days,the prepupal stage(3.93±0.95) days,and the pupal stage about(108.4±13.17) days under laboratory conditions at a temperature of 20°C,RH70%.Pupae were mainly clustered 30-90 cm around the stem base at a depth of 4-8 cm below the soil surface.The adults emerged mostly from 20:00-24:00 and females mainly at 6:00-8:00 and 12:00-16:00.Adults could mate immediately after emergence.Mating duration was about 20-260 min and most lasted 50-150 min.At a temperature of 20℃,the longevity of mated females and males was(5.56±1.47) and(3.95±0.95) days,respectively,and fecundity was(162.2±69.9) eggs per female.In contrast,the longevity of virgin females and males was(8.03±2.90) and(4.38±1.59) days,respectively,and fecundity was(164.1±81.3) eggs per female but the eggs were infertile.At a temperature of 15℃,the longevity of virgin females and males was(14.48±6.67) and(6.64±1.76) days,respectively,and fecundity was(145.7±76.83)eggs per female.[Conclusion]The period over which E.ankeraria economically significant damage was short,the pupal stage was long,and the timing of adult emergence differed between the sexes.Temperature and whether individuals had mated or not had an important influence on adult longevity and fecundity.