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Lightbrown apple moth - Fecundity |
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The number of eggs produced by lightbrown apple moth females (fecundity) is highly variable (see Table). Heavier female pupae produce more eggs and live longer as adults.
| Average fecundity in the field (Australia) | 65 - 492 eggs/female | |
| Average fecundity in the field (apples, Australia) | 90 - 358 eggs/female | |
| Average fecundity in the laboratory (apples, NZ) | 615 eggs/female | |
| Average fecundity in the laboratory (clover, NZ) | 535 eggs/female | |
| Range of field fecundity (individual females - Australia) | 0 - 1492 eggs/female | |
| Range of fecundity (individual females - apples, NZ) | 156 - 894 eggs/female | |
| Range of fecundity (individual females - clover, NZ) | 292 - 684 eggs/female |
Variation in fecundity is primarily determined by weather conditions, and the quality and succession of host plants. The females moths which laid on apple foliage in the above Table completed their egg laying over an average of 22 days. In Australia, variation in fecundity has been found to play an important role in population dynamics.