Melanism in Panthea furcilla (packard) (lepidoptera, noctuidae): field studies in central Massachusetts

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1977 · New York Entomological Society; (United States)

OSTI ID:7188827

Jones, T K

Field studies were undertaken to determine the nature and extent of melanism in two populations of the cryptic moth, Panthea furcilla. Melanic frequencies significantly increased over a three year period in both populations of P. furcilla sampled. Predation experiments showed that melanics suffer less predation than typicals. However, life expectancies for typical and melanic morphs were nearly equal as computed from mark-release-recapture data. Accordingly it is suggested that one advantage melanics enjoy is their greater vigor prior to the imaginal stage. Acid-rainfall, as a Northeast regional problem, is advanced as a possible cause for the increase in melanic frequencies. 22 references, 9 tables.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst
• OSTI ID: 7188827
• Journal Information: New York Entomological Society; (United States), Vol. 85:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACID RAIN
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
MOTHS
MELANIN
LIFE CYCLE
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
LEPIDOPTERA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PIGMENTS
RAIN
560304* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Invertebrates- (-1987)
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)