Some effects of a porina caterpillar ( Wiseana spp.) infestation on perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, and white clover

Abstract The effect of porina caterpillar infestation on the growth of monocultures of perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, and white clover and on mixtures of perennial ryegrass and white clover and perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot was measured. Survival of larvae was greatest under white clover and least under ryegrass. This was attributed to differences in the availability of herbage to the larvae in their feeding zone. There was preferential feeding on white clover and cocksfoot in the mixtures with perennial ryegrass.