Spatio‐temporal analysis of the population dynamics of the oriental moth, Monema flavescens (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae)

Abstract

SummaryThe comparative analysis of life tables of the oriental moth, Monema flavescens, obtained in 6 patches for 8 generations in 4 years revealed the following: The ratio of maximum to minimum of cocoon density for each patch ranged from 5.34 to 22.50, each value being more than 3.20, the ratio for the whole study area. The density change from adult to cocoon in the next generation caused most of the spatial variation in density change per patch. The rate of adult‐to‐cocoon population change showed spatial density dependence in some generations but not in others. When the change rate lacked spatial density dependence, it was the key‐factor for spatial variation in adult density for the following few generations till the change rate recovered spatial density dependence. This was because of flooding, which killed the spatial density dependence existing potentially in the adult‐to‐cocoon change rate and damaged the same patches during the few successive generations. The rate of population change from overwintered generation adults (summer ones) to first generation cocoons was not only the key‐factor for the rate of throughout‐the‐year change but temporally density dependent in each patch. Therefore, the density for the whole study area is considered to fluctuate within a range. However, the strong equilibrium seen in the cocoon density for the whole study area was due to the floods that happened to occur when the density was near and at its maximum, and it is considered that such a strong equilibrium does not always occur. In the population change from summer adults to first generation cocoons, temporal density dependence was found in all the patches, but it was found only in one patch in the population change from autumn adults to second generation cocoons. This was because the spatial density dependence seen in the former corresponded to the absolute density of adults, while that in the latter corresponded to the relative density.