Life History and the Relation Between Population Dynamics and Meteorological Factors of Hyphantria cunea (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiidae) in Shanghai, China

The fall webworm <i>Hyphantria cunea</i> (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) is a globally invasive species that causes serious damage to agriculture and forestry. Since the first invasion reported in Liaoning Province, China, it has spread extensively southward and was found in Shanghai in 2019. Owing to the climatic and environmental differences between these regions, the biology and population dynamics of <i>H. cunea</i> may have undergone changes in its newly invaded areas. In this study, we investigated the biology of <i>H. cunea</i> in Shanghai and monitored the population dynamics using sex-pheromone-baited traps. We analyzed the relationships between population dynamics and local meteorological factors, including temperature, precipitation, and sunshine duration. Our result indicates high temperatures and large diurnal temperature ranges have significant effects (<i>R</i>² = 0.723, <i>p</i> < 0.001) on the survival and development of <i>H. cunea</i>. Consequently, they play an important role in shaping its population dynamics. These findings enhance our understanding of how <i>H. cunea</i> responds to Shanghai's environmental conditions, provide a scientific basis for local pest management, and contribute to predicting its population trends.