Change of pupal size of Panolis flammea (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) and Bupalus piniarius (Geometridae) in response to concentration of industrial pollutants in their food plant

Kari Heliövaara; Rauno Väisänen; Eero Kemppi

doi:10.1007/BF00388475

Change of pupal size of Panolis flammea (Lepidoptera; Noctuidae) and Bupalus piniarius (Geometridae) in response to concentration of industrial pollutants in their food plant

Oecologia. 1989 May;79(2):179-183. doi: 10.1007/BF00388475.

Authors

Kari Heliövaara¹, Rauno Väisänen², Eero Kemppi¹

Affiliations

¹ Finnish Forest Research Institute, PL 18, SF-01301, Vantaa, Finland.
² Department of Entomology, Zoological Museum, University of Helsinki, P. Rautatiekatu 13, SF-00100, Helsinki, Finland.

PMID: 28312852
DOI: 10.1007/BF00388475

Abstract

Larvae of Panolis flammea and Bupalus piniarius were reared in the laboratory on needles of Scots pine affected by industrial air pollutants in Finland. Needles were collected at different distances from a distinctive source of emission along two 9-km-long transects, and from independent control plots. The elemental composition of the needles used as larval food was analysed. Pupal weight, length and width were negatively correlated wiht the distance from the source of emission. The elemental composition of the pine needles explained 24-53% of the variation in pupal weight. Most of the explained variation was assoicated with the concentration of heavy meals in the pine needles.

Keywords: Air pollution; Heavy metals; Pinus sylvestris; Reproductive potential.