Functional response of two Mesocomys species on factitious host Antheraea pernyi and their biocontrol potential against the Japanese giant silkworm Caligula japonica

The Japanese giant silkworm (JGS) Caligula japonica is a significant defoliator pest in East Asia, causing severe economic losses in forest and fruit production. To establish a cost-effective biological control program against JGS, the age-stage, two-sex life table method was used to accurately assess the potential efficacy of two Mesocomys species (M. albitarsis and M. trabalae) in controlling this pest. Our study focused on the functional response of two Mesocomys species to Chinese oak silkworm (COS) Antheraea pernyi eggs (factitious host), as well as their reproductive attributes when exposed to JGS eggs (target host).