Detailed analysis of the occurrence patterns of the jujube inchworm

It has 1 generation per year. The mature larvae spin silk and drop to the ground, burrow into the soil, and pupate to oversummer and overwinter. The pupae are scattered in the soil within the tree canopy projection area, at a depth of about 10 cm; the closer to the trunk, the greater the density. They emerge in March to April of the following year. After the larvae hatch from the eggs, they can crawl and spin silk, and with the help of wind, spread to surrounding branches. As the larval age increases, their food consumption rapidly increases, and they gnaw on jujube leaves, tender buds, and even jujube fruiting shoots and jujube flowers. When the jujube leaves are eaten bare, the young larvae spin silk and move with the help of wind. The mature larvae retreat to the main branches and remain still in the cracks of old bark for 2 to 3 days, then after fruiting drop to the ground and burrow into the soil to pupate. The larvae have a false death habit, and when disturbed they spin silk and hang down.