Studies were conducted from 2015 to 2018 to evaluate spotted lanternfly (SLF) distribution and developmental suitability of different plant species in the U.S. Tree bands on 283 trees spanning 33 species captured 21,006 SLF in 2 yr. More SLF per tree were trapped on tree-of-heaven Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae) than on other species, on average, and most adults were captured on tree-of-heaven. Frequency of detection of adult SLF was higher on tree-of-heaven than on other species but was actually equal or lower on tree-of-heaven than on all other species combined for younger SLF stages in 2015. An enclosed choice test between tree-of-heaven and black walnut Juglans nigra L. (Fagales: Juglandaceae) revealed nymphs showed little consistent preference, whereas adults consistently and significantly preferred tree-of-heaven. No-choice field sleeve studies evaluated SLF survivorship on 26 host plant species in 17 families. Ten plant species supported SLF for an average of ≥45 d, with the rest unable to support SLF for >30 d. Eight species were able to support development from first instar to adult: black walnut, chinaberry Melia azedarach L. (Sapindales: Meliaceae), oriental bittersweet Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (Celastrales: Celastraceae), tree-of-heaven, hops Humulus lupulus L. (Rosales: Cannabaceae), sawtooth oak Quercus acutissima Carruthers (Fagales: Fagaceae), butternut Juglans cinerea L, and tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifiera L. (Magnoliales: Magnoliaceae). The ability of SLF to develop to adult on hosts other than tree-of-heaven may impact pest management decisions.

In many species, empirical data suggest that temperatures less than 1 month before breeding strongly influence laying date, consistent with predictions that short lag times between cue and response are more reliable, decreasing the chance of mismatch with prey. Here we show in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) that mid-winter temperature ca 50–90 days before laying (8 January–22 February) strongly (r2 = 0.89) predicts annual variation in laying date. Mid-winter temperature also correlated highly with relative clutch size: birds laid later, but laid larger clutches, in years when mid-winter temperatures were lower. Despite a high degree of breeding synchrony (mean laying date 5–13 April = ±4 days; 80% of nests laid within 4.8 days within year), European starlings show strong date-dependent variation in clutch size and productivity, but this appears to be mediated by a different temporal mechanism for integration of supplemental cue (temperature) information. We suggest the relationship between mid-winter temperature and breeding phenology might be indirect with both components correlating with a third factor: temperature-dependent development of the starling's insect (tipulid) prey. Mid-winter temperatures might set the trajectory of growth and final biomass of tipulid larvae, with this temperature cue providing starlings with information on breeding season prey availability (though exactly how remains unknown).

Summary Developmental maturity (e.g. body condition, body mass) at major life‐history transitions is known to affect fitness across a wide range of taxa. Fledging (leaving the nest), a major life‐history transition in birds, is associated with high post‐fledging mortality and is widely assumed to be related to poor initial flight ability of fledglings, which, in turn, might be related to developmental maturity at fledging. We investigated individual variation in developmental maturity of both somatic and physiological traits at this critical life‐history transition in different ecological contexts (year, first or second broods) to determine the importance of physiological traits related to oxygen‐carrying capacity (haematocrit, haemoglobin) for individual variation in initial flight ability at fledging. Haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit at fledging had much higher variance than somatic traits and were more variable across ecological contexts. Furthermore, fledgling haemoglobin concentration was the least developmentally mature of all traits (on average, only 78% of adult concentration). Fledglings from second broods, which are known to have lower post‐fledging survival, were less developmentally mature than fledglings from first broods for all traits (except tarsus), with haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration being the most developmentally immature traits (in first vs. second broods, haematocrit: 47·1% vs. 40·9%; haemoglobin: 13·3 vs. 11·6 g dL−1). Models predicting individual variation in two aspects of initial flight ability (total energy gain, take‐off angle) were significantly improved when physiological traits (in particular haemoglobin) were incorporated into models based on somatic traits. A http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.12777/suppinfo is available for this article.

Multiple brooding, the production of more than one set of offspring per breeding season, is a life-history trait that potentially doubles or triples fecundity, but the factors responsible for variation in the occurrence of multiple brooding within species remain poorly understood. We investigated the potential causes and consequences of double-brooding in the highly synchronously breeding European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), for which we predicted that clutch initiation date would have little effect on double-brooding propensity compared with individual quality. Double-brooding effectively doubled annual fecundity in European Starlings (based on the annual number of chicks fledged), but on average only 38% of individual females had a second brood. Furthermore, 39% of females that initiated a second clutch experienced total failure of their second brood, and thus accrued no advantage in fecundity from their decision to double-brood. As we predicted, variation in the propensity for, and success of, double-brooding was independent of laying date, but also of other putative measures of individual quality (clutch size, egg mass, relative female age, and nestling provisioning rate). However, we found no evidence of a cost of double-brooding; females that doublebrooded had significantly higher return rates and similar breeding productivity in the year after double-brooding compared with single-brooding females. Thus, a small proportion (~20%) of 'high-quality' female European Starlings effectively double their potential breeding productivity through double-brooding without apparently paying a cost or experiencing any simple tradeoffs. Keywords: multiple brooding, breeding phenology, individual quality, laying date Calidad individual y nidada doble en una población altamente sincrónica de un ave canora RESUMEN Las nidadas múltiples, que representan la producción de más de un juego de crías por estación reproductiva, son un rasgo de la historia de vida que potencialmente duplica o triplica la fecundidad, pero poco se sabe de los factores responsables de la variación intra-específica en la presencia de nidadas múltiples. Investigamos las causas y consecuencias potenciales de la nidada doble en individuos reproductivos altamente sincrónicos de Sturnus vulgaris, donde predijimos que la 'fecha' (inicio de la nidada) tendría un efecto moderado en la propensión a la nidada doble comparada con la 'calidad' individual. La nidada doble efectivamente duplicó la fecundidad anual en S. vulgaris (basado en el número anual de polluelos criados), pero en promedio solo 38% de las hembras presentaron nidada doble. Más aún, 39% de las hembras que iniciaron una segunda nidada fracasaron totalmente en su segundo intento, por lo que no acumularon una ventaja en su fecundidad a partir de su decisión de realizar una nidada doble. Como predijimos, la variación en la propensión a, y eléxito de, la nidada doble fue independiente de la fecha de puesta, pero también de otras medidas putativas de la 'calidad' individual (tamaño de la nidada...

In avian species, little is known about the development of physiological traits in the days preceding fledging, a critical life history transition marked by a high mortality rate. Developmental trajectory during this period may be flexible based on ecological context or hardwired, with potential costs for variation in growth in the form of oxidative stress. Patterns in development are likely to relate to variation in life history, for which seabirds and aerial insectivores have been well studied, while our focal species is a grassland ground forager, the European starling (). We show that changes in haematocrit, body mass and wing length are independent of year and brood quality, while changes in haemoglobin concentration are higher in low-quality broods. Moreover, we also identify higher oxidative stress in low-quality year and second broods, a potential cost for maintaining a hardwired developmental trajectory in a lower quality environment. Finally, we experimentally test the effects of food supplementation on development and maturity of chicks at fledging to show that although food increases body mass early in development, it does not change the trajectory or final maturity of chicks at fledging. Collectively this study demonstrates that some developmental changes prior to fledging may be hardwired, but may have long-term oxidative costs in low-quality environments.