Identification and Collection of Adult Lepidopterans in Benguet State University Main Campus

Abstract

The study was conducted in Benguet State University, La Trinidad, Benguet from January to May 2016 to identify the different families of Lepidoptera found in Benguet State University main campus, to determine the distribution of the different Lepidopterans, to determine the number of collected species of Lepidoptera and to categorize the economic importance of the collected Lepidopterans. There were thirteen families of Lepidoptera identified in the entire campus and these were Crambidae, Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, Pieridae Arctiidae, Nymphalidae, Papillionidae, Geometridae, Lymantriidae, Noctuidae, Saturniidae and Sphingidae. The families Crambidae, Hesperiidae, Lycaenidae, and Pieridae were observed to be present in the entire ecosystem. On the other hand, families Arctiidae and Nymphalidae were recorded in all the areas except in the field behind Administration. As for Papillionidae, it was seen in Organic farm, Forestry, BSU hallways and buildings and the field behind Administration. The families Geometridae, Lymantriidae and Noctuidae were only seen in Mites Predatory Rearing House, Forestry and BSU catwalk/buildings, while Saturniidae and Sphingidae were only present in BSU hallways and buildings. Under these families there were thirty two species collected and identified during the study namely: Areas galactina Hoeven, Utetheisa lotrix Cramer, Nyctemera adversata Schaller, Nyctemera lacticinia Cramer, Creatonotos gangis Linnaeus, Spilosoma curvata Donovan, Amata polymita Linnaeus, Pleuroptya ruralis Scopoli, Chrysaeglia magnifica Walker, Geometra sponsaria Bremer, Taractrocera luzonensis Staudinger, Zizina otis Fabricius, Lampides boeticus Linnaeus, Arctornis sp., Euproctis lutea Fabricius, Spodoptera litura Fabricius, Phalanta phalantha Drury, Danaus chrysippus Linnaeus, Melanitis leda Linnaeus, Hypolimnas bolina Linnaeus, Papilio demolus Linnaeus, Papilio helenus Linnaeus, Delias henningia Eschscholtz, Pieris brassicae Linnaeus, Eurema sarilata Semper, Delias benguetana Inomata, Endotricha flammealis Denis & Schiffermuller, Spoladea recurvalis Fabricius, Attacus atlas Linnaeus, Hippotion celerio Linnaeus, unidentified and unidentified. Four species were observed and identified as insect pests: Pieris brassicae Linnaeus, Eurema sarilata Semper, Zizina otis Fabricius and Papilio demoleus Linnaeus. On the other hand, 14 species were classified as beneficial. Lastly, 26 species were classified as visitors; these were the species only seen once regardless of location. The host plants of immature Lepidopterans present in the entire campus were brassicae (cabbage, lettuce, water cress, pechay, rape seed) for Pieris brassicae Linnaeus, giant milkweed for Danaus chrysippus Linnaeus, citrus for Papillio demoleus Fabricius, Lovi-lovi or batoko plum for Phalanta phalantha Drury, Slender panicgrass for Ypthima sp., legumes (peas) for Zizina otis Fabricius and Eurema sarilata Semper and Asian rice, maize and guinea grass for Melanitis leda Linnaeus.