Abstract
The performance of the variegated grasshopper, Zonocerus variegatus (L) fed on different food plants namely: cassava (Manihot esculenta), pawpaw (Carica papaya) and acalypha (Acalypha wilkesiana) and mixtures of these plants (mixed diets) from 5th nymphal instar to adult were investigated. Survivorship and longevity of nymphs and the reproductive performance of adult Zonocerus was greater and better for insect fed on cassava and mixed diets, as compared to those fed only on Acalypha and pawpaw. Adults emerged between the 5th-16th week in cages containing 5th instars fed on cassava and mixed diets, and between 7-23 weeks for those fed on acalypha and pawpaw. There were significant differences in the measurments of the body parameters of insects fed on the four different food plants (ANOVA P =0.05). Ranking was Cassava>Mixture>pawpaw>Acalyhpa. Sex had no significant effect on the measurement of body parameters irrespective of the food plants (ANOVA P >0.05). Feeding assay showed that cassava was the most preferred and most consumed food plant. This had a corresponding effect on the weight gained by the insects. The results of the proximate analysis showed significant differences in the dry matter, crude protein and fat content of Z. variegatus fed on the different food plants (ANOVA P> 0.05) . A positive correlation existed between the body weight and protein and fat content of Z. variegatus fed on the different food plants (R=0.99).
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Survivorship, longevity and reproductive performance of Zonocerus were greater on cassava and mixed diets than on acalypha and pawpaw.
- Taxon
- cassava
Manihot esculentae1 - Treatment
- cassava and mixed dietse1
- Outcome
- Survivorship and longevitye1
- Direction
- greatere1
- Comparator
- those fed only on Acalypha and pawpawe1
ZonocerusOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Survivorship and longevity of nymphs and the reproductive performance of adult Zonocerus was greater and better for insect fed on cassava and mixed diets, as compared to those fed only on Acalypha and pawpaw”
Claim · model-written summary
Adults emerged between the 5th and 16th week on cassava and mixed diets.
- Taxon
- cassavaManihot esculentae2
- Treatment
- cassava and mixed dietse2
- Outcome
- Adults emergede2
- Value
- 5th-16th weeke2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Adults emerged between the 5th-16th week in cages containing 5th instars fed on cassava and mixed diets, and between 7-23 weeks for those fed on acalypha and pawpaw”
Claim · model-written summary
Adults emerged between the 7th and 23rd week on acalypha and pawpaw.
AcalyphaOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Adults emerged between the 5th-16th week in cages containing 5th instars fed on cassava and mixed diets, and between 7-23 weeks for those fed on acalypha and pawpaw”
Claim · model-written summary
Cassava was the most preferred and most consumed food plant of Zonocerus in a feeding assay.
- Taxon
- cassavaManihot esculentae3
- Outcome
- most preferred and most consumed food plante3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“Feeding assay showed that cassava was the most preferred and most consumed food plant. This had a corresponding effect on the weight gained by the insects”
Claim · model-written summary
Weight gained by Zonocerus increased with cassava consumption, the most consumed food plant.
- Taxon
- cassavaManihot esculentae3
- Treatment
- most consumed food plante3
- Outcome
- weight gainede3
- Direction
- increaseinferrede3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e3“Feeding assay showed that cassava was the most preferred and most consumed food plant. This had a corresponding effect on the weight gained by the insects”
Claim · model-written summary
Sex had no significant effect on body parameters of Zonocerus, irrespective of food plant.
Verbatim
e6“Sex had no significant effect on the measurement of body parameters irrespective of the food plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Dry matter, crude protein and fat content of Zonocerus differed significantly among food plants.
- Taxon
- food plantse7
- Interactor
- Z. variegatus
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Zonocerus variegatuse7herbivore - Outcome
- dry matter, crude protein and fat contente7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e7“The results of the proximate analysis showed significant differences in the dry matter, crude protein and fat content of Z. variegatus fed on the different food plants”
Claim · model-written summary
Body weight of Zonocerus was positively correlated with its protein and fat content across food plants (R=0.99).
- Taxon
- food plantse2
- Treatment
- fed on the different food plantse2
- Interactor
- Z. variegatusZonocerus variegatuse2herbivore
- Outcome
- body weight and protein and fat contente2
- Direction
- positivee2
- Value
- R=0.99e2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“A positive correlation existed between the body weight and protein and fat content of Z. variegatus fed on the different food plants (R=0.99)”