Size and dispersion of urticating setae in three species of processionary moths

Autor(en)

Edoardo Petrucco Toffolo, Daniel Zovi, Chiara Perin, Paolo Paolucci, Alain Roques, Andrea Battisti, Helmuth Horvath

Abstrakt

Larvae of the processionary moths of the

Palaearctic region bear urticating setae that are released against

vertebrate predators, especially insectivorous birds. A few species are

pests of forest and urban trees and, consequently, may threaten human

and animal health during outbreaks, causing dermatitis, conjunctivitis

and respiratory distress. Although some studies provide detailed

information about the setae, particularly those of the pine

processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa, there is little

knowledge on the morphological traits of the setae and their release by

the larvae. In the present study we identify major traits of the setae

of 3 species of processionary moth, T. pityocampa, T. pinivora and T. processionea,

which are potentially helpful in the understanding of setae dynamics in

the environment: (i) diameter and length of setae and (ii) analysis of

dynamical properties of the setae in the airborne state. Setae are

highly variable in size, with bimodal distribution in T. pityocampa and T. pinivora;

in these 2 species, short and long setae are interspersed within the

integument fields where they occur. The difference in the seta size has

important consequences in dispersion, as smaller setae can spread 5

times further than their bigger counterparts. This information is

relevant for a full understanding of the defensive importance of larval

setae against natural enemies of the processionary moths, as well for

elucidating the importance of the processionary setae as air pollutants,

both close to the infested trees and at longer distances.

Organisation(en)

Aerosolphysik und Umweltphysik

Externe Organisation(en)

Università degli Studi di Padova, INRA - Institut national de la recherche agronomique

Journal

Integrative Zoology

Band

9

Seiten

320-327

Anzahl der Seiten

8

ISSN

1749-4869

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1111/1749-4877.12031

Publikationsdatum

06-2014

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

103037 Umweltphysik, 106054 Zoologie

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Animal Science and Zoology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 – Gesundheit und Wohlergehen

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/07b66b0f-1867-43f9-9975-5e4123a8d7fc