A Study on Bionomics of Bamboo Puss Moth,Norraca retrofusca (Notodontidae:Lepidoptera) in China

The bionomics of the leaf feeding puss moth, Norraca retrofusca, was studied through laboratory and field observation in natural conditions in Zhejiang Province,China.The puss moth mainly attacks Phyllostachys spp.in all bamboo growing areas in southern China and it damages bamboos severely and even causes total defoliation.The insect occurs 3 or 4 generations per year in Zhejiang Province and over-winters as pupae under surface soil.Larvae feed on leaves from late April to late October or late November,varying with air temperature in autumn.There are 5 larval instars.Each larva,in its lifetime on average,consumes 662.46 cm2 of leaves in area,which is allocated to its five instars by 1.57,7.73,16.36,57.02 and 579.76 cm2 respectively.The larvae to be developed to female adults consumed 12%～15% more leaves than those to be developed to male.Female moths deposit 161～286 eggs per moth.The puss moth is attacked by various parasitic natural enemies including Trichogramma spp.Telenomus spp.ichneumon wasps and tachinid flies.Controlling methods of this puss moth are also proposed.