Field and laboratory studies on the adults of Ascotis selenaria reciprocaria (Wik.) (Lep., Geometridae), a pest of arabica coffee in Kenya

Abstract

In arabica coffee estates at Kahuguni and Magogoni, Kenya, female giant looper moths, Ascotis selenaria reciprocaria (Wlk.), rested on coffee tree stems at 60·7 ± 9·8 cm above ground and males at 65·7 ± 6·6 cm; most eggs were laid less than 122 cm above ground. In the laboratory, females laid on average 693 eggs in 5·3 batches; peak oviposition and fertility were 2–3 days after emergence. Life span was 8·3 days for females and 10·4 days for males; at death females contained 1·4 spermatophores each (1·1 in field-collected specimens). It is concluded that hand-picking of moths will have little control value unless done the day after emergence, but that tree-banding with residual insecticide 122–130 cm above ground would kill 90% of the emerging larvae.