Dynamics of host plant selection and host-switching by silver-spotted skipper caterpillars

Rosenwald, Laura C.; Lill, John T.; Lind, Eric M.; Weiss, Martha R.

doi:10.1007/s11829-017-9538-0

Cited by 17 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…The results suggest that host-plant preferences of M.e. argentinus larvae could be innate or acquired through imprinting in early life stages (Jermy et al, 1968;Yamamoto, 1974;Jermy, 1987;Bernays and Weiss, 1996;Silva, Gonçalves and Moreira, 2014;Rosenwald et al, 2017). The observed preferences could reflect larval constraints in host selection if larvae are influenced by mother choice at early stages rather than active host choice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host plant specificity and feeding preferences of Morpho epistrophus argentinus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) larvae in coastal woodlands of Argentina

Carro¹,

Lacoretz²,

Mársico³

et al. 2019

AZL

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The selection of suitable host plants for larval development is critical for most herbivorous insects. In this study, we examined host plant preferences of larvae of the Epistrophus white morpho butterfly, Morpho epistrophus argentinus (H. Fruhstorfer), a specialized butterfly that oviposits on a few plant species. In many species, the selection of host plant species for larvae development is under the control of ovipositing females and the role of larvae in host selection is minimal. Through field observations, we characterized larval host plant use in coastal woodland patches of its southernmost distribution range at eastern Buenos Aires, Argentina. All sampled M.e. argentinus larvaegroups (n = 40) were found on Scutia buxifolia trees, although the number of larval groups did not correlate with cover of this plant at patch scale. To further examine host plant preferences we performed translocation experiments and feeding choice assays. M.e. argentinus larvae translocated to unsuitable host plants had a shorter residence time than those translocated to suitable (i.e. control) hosts. Choice assays also indicated strong feeding preferences of wild larvae for S. buxifolia leaves. Our results highlight the high degree of host specificity of this butterfly, and reveal that host preference of growing larvae matches that of ovipositing females.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host plant specificity and feeding preferences of Morpho epistrophus argentinus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) larvae in coastal woodlands of Argentina

Carro¹,

Lacoretz²,

Mársico³

et al. 2019

AZL

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“…The frequency and suitability of host plant species encountered by phytophagous insects can vary in time and space because of heterogeneity in the environment, disturbance, colonization, and intra-or interspecific interactions [29]. For herbivorous insects, ecological theory and empirical data on host plant selection provide evidence that adults can engage in host-plant selection for their offspring by choosing to lay their eggs on particular plants [3,7,13,17,18,[29][30][31], However, there is now accumulating evidence revealing that immature life stages can also play an active role in host discrimination, especially in Lepidopterans [19][20][21][22]32,33]. We find evidence of M. rufonota larval preference for C. camphora and C. bodinieri as measured by the mass of leaf consumed by the larvae and by the larval choice of host plants and time spent on each leaf.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent decades, the behavioral mechanisms by which phytophagous insects locate and select potential host plants have been extensively documented [14,15]. However, the vast majority of this work has focused on host plant selection of phytophagous insects for feeding or egg-laying by adult insects [3,7,[16][17][18], while the role of larval stages in host plant selection has received less attention in empirical studies to date [19][20][21][22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Larval Host Preference and Suitability for the Sawfly Mesoneura rufonota among Five Cinnamomun Tree Species

Zhou

Zhang

Tregenza

et al. 2020

Insects

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The camphor sawfly, Mesoneura rufonota Rohwer, is an economically important leaf-chewing pest of the genus Cinnamomum Trew. However, little is known about the range of species that it can infest within this genus or whether larvae show preferences for particular species. We conducted preference and performance experiments under laboratory conditions to assess larval host preference and suitability as a host plant of five congeneric trees species: C. camphora (Linn) Presl, C. bodinieri Levl., C. burmanni (Nees et T. Nees) Blume, C. pauciflorum Nees, and C. micranthum (Hay.) Hay. In no-choice, two-choice and multiple-choice feeding trials, significantly higher feeding rates were found on C. camphora, followed by C. bodinieri, compared to those on the other three tree species. In two-choice behavior trials, larvae moved to occupy leaves of C. camphora faster and more frequently, followed by C. bodinieri, than when offered the other three tree species. In no-choice fitness trials, the survival of larval and pupal stage was the highest, the developmental duration of larval and pupal stage was the shortest, the pupal body weight was the heaviest and adults lived the longest on C. camphora followed by C. bodinieri, while M. rufonota did not complete development on C. burmanni, C. pauciflorum or C. micranthum. Our results demonstrate that larvae consistently prefer and perform better on C. camphora leaves, that they can utilize C. bodinieri, but it is less preferred, and that C. burmanni, C. pauciflorum, and C. micranthum appear to be unsuitable as a host for M. rufonota.

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“…Thus, selection on adult females for discrimination between cultivars can be low. And (4) some larvae disperse within and among plants during development (Cunningham et al, 2011; Rivera & Burrack, 2012; Moreira et al, 2016; Rosenwald et al, 2017). Larvae may have a more active role in host choice than females in species with highly mobile larvae, and therefore, weak selection for strong preference–performance relationship would be expected (Thompson, 1988; Craig & Itami, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of crop variety and fertilization on oviposition preference and larval performance of a generalist herbivore, the true armyworm, Mythimna unipuncta

Batallas

Rossato

Mori

et al. 2020

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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The relationship between oviposition preference and offspring performance of herbivores is an essential question in the field of plant-insect interactions and may have important implications on integrated pest management practices. Here, we investigated the preference-performance relationship of a generalist herbivore, the true armyworm, Mythimna unipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Leucaniini). We evaluated the effect of crop species, cultivars, and fertilization rate on host use by adult and larval M. unipuncta in both laboratory and field experiments. Female M. unipuncta preferred to oviposit on cereals (Triticum aestivum L., Hordeum vulgare L., Zea mays L., all Poaceae) compared to oilseed (Brassica napus L., Brassicaceae) or pulse (Pisum sativum L., Fabaceae) crops. The preference-performance relationship was examined further on four cereal crops, spring wheat (T. aestivum cv. CDC Go), winter wheat (T. aestivum cv. CDC Buteo), feed barley (H. vulgare cv. Xena), and malt barley (H. vulgare cv. Copeland). Feed barley was the least preferred cereal by female moths but resulted in the highest larval performance of all tested plants suggesting that females did not select the host on which their offspring performs best, based on nutrient content. In contrast, late-instar larvae selected the hosts, feed barley and malt barley, on which they performed the best, suggesting that larvae have a more active role in host selection for development, compared to adult females. The addition of fertilizer to host plants did not influence adult female oviposition preference. Larvae reared on plants treated with the half (70 mg N) or full (140 mg N) dose of fertilizer resulted in heavier pupae, compared to those reared on unfertilized plants, regardless of crop variety. However, under field conditions fertilization did not enhance larval performance on feed barley plants. The generalist herbivore M. unipuncta does not exhibit the 'mother knows best' principle on the tested hosts and potentially employs a bet-hedging strategy instead.

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Dynamics of host plant selection and host-switching by silver-spotted skipper caterpillars

Cited by 17 publications

References 44 publications

Host plant specificity and feeding preferences of Morpho epistrophus argentinus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) larvae in coastal woodlands of Argentina

Host plant specificity and feeding preferences of Morpho epistrophus argentinus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) larvae in coastal woodlands of Argentina

Larval Host Preference and Suitability for the Sawfly Mesoneura rufonota among Five Cinnamomun Tree Species

Influence of crop variety and fertilization on oviposition preference and larval performance of a generalist herbivore, the true armyworm, Mythimna unipuncta

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