- Title
- The nocturnal larvae of a specialist folivore perform better on C hromolaena odorata leaves from a shaded environment
- Creator
- Osariyekemwen O. Uyi, Costas Zachariades, Hill, Martin P, Conlong, Desmond
- Subject
- To be catalogued
- Date
- 2015
- Type
- text
- Type
- article
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/424855
- Identifier
- vital:72189
- Identifier
- xlink:href="https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.12321"
- Description
- Increasing evidence suggests that individuals of the same plant species occurring in different micro-habitats often show a degree of phenotypic and phytochemical variation. Consequently, insect herbivores associated with such plant species must deal with environment-mediated changes or variability in the traits of their host plants. In this study, we examined the effects of habitat condition (shadedvs. full-sun habitats) on plant traits and leaf characteristics of the invasive alien plant, Chromolaenaodorata (L.) King and Robinson (Asteraceae). In addition, the performance was evaluated in two generations of a specialist folivore, Pareuchaetes insulata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae), on leaves obtained from both shaded and full-sun habitats. The study was done in an area where the insect was introduced as a biological control agent. Leaves growing in shade were less tough, had higher water and nitrogen content, and lower total non-structural carbohydrate, compared with leaves growing in full sun. Plants growing in shade had longer leaves and were taller, but above-ground biomass was significantly reduced compared with plants growing in full sun. In both generations (parents and offspring), P. insulata developed faster and had larger pupal mass, increased growth rate, and higher fecundity when reared on shaded foliage compared with full-sun foliage. Although immature survival and adult longevity did not differ between habitats, Maw’s host suitability index indicated that shaded leaves were more suitable for the growth and reproduction of P. insulata. We suggest that the benefits obtained by P.insulata feeding on shaded foliage are associated with reduced toughness and enhanced nitrogen and water content of leaves. These results demonstrate that light-mediated changes in plant traits and leaf characteristics can affect insect folivore performance.
- Format
- computer, online resource, application/pdf, 1 online resource (13 pages), pdf
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Language
- English
- Relation
- Wiley, Uyi, O.O., Zachariades, C., Hill, M.P. and Conlong, D., 2015. The nocturnal larvae of a specialist folivore perform better on C hromolaena odorata leaves from a shaded environment. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 156(2), pp.187-199, Wiley volume 156 number 2 p. 187 2015 1570-7458
- Rights
- Publisher
- Rights
- Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Wiley Library Online Terms of Use Statement (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions)
- Rights
- Closed Access
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Collections
RU DST/NRF SARChI for Insects in Sustainable Agricultural Ecosystems
Hill, Martin Patrick (Distinguished Professor)
SDG 15. Life On Land
RU Department of Zoology and Entomology
| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
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| View Details | SOURCE1 | The nocturnal larvae of a specialist folivore perform better on C hromolaena odorata leaves from a shaded environment.pdf | 673 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details |