In Kansas, how many generations do mimosa webworms have?

In Kansas, how many generations do mimosa webworms have?

• A. One
• B. Two
• C. Three
• D. Four

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how many life cycles a pest can complete in the available warm season—the number of generations, or voltinism, depends on how long and how hot the year stays. Mimosa webworms need a sequence of warm days for eggs to hatch, larvae to feed, pupate, and adults to emerge again. In Kansas, the growing season is just long enough to support two full life cycles before winter cold ends development. That makes two generations the typical pattern. In warmer areas, more than two generations can occur, while in cooler areas you might see fewer. So, the usual expectation for Kansas is two generations. If a particularly warm year occurs, a partial third generation might appear, but two is the standard.

The key idea is how many life cycles a pest can complete in the available warm season—the number of generations, or voltinism, depends on how long and how hot the year stays. Mimosa webworms need a sequence of warm days for eggs to hatch, larvae to feed, pupate, and adults to emerge again. In Kansas, the growing season is just long enough to support two full life cycles before winter cold ends development. That makes two generations the typical pattern. In warmer areas, more than two generations can occur, while in cooler areas you might see fewer. So, the usual expectation for Kansas is two generations. If a particularly warm year occurs, a partial third generation might appear, but two is the standard.