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How do primary nutrients affect the performance and preference of forest tent caterpillars on trembling aspen?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

Meghan K. Noseworthy  and
Emma Despland
Meghan K. Noseworthy
Affiliation:
Biology Department, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street W, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H4B 1R6
Emma Despland*
Affiliation:
Biology Department, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street W, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H4B 1R6
*
1 Corresponding author (e-mail: despland@alcor.concordia.ca).
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Abstract

Variation in leaf quality includes differences in both primary nutrients and secondary metabolites. Both of these factors can influence the feeding preference and resulting performance of herbivores in ways that are difficult to disentangle when comparing foliage from different sources. Our study was designed to assess the effects of the ratio of the primary nutrients in host-tree foliage, protein and sugar, on the performance and feeding behaviour of the forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hübner (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)). Fourth-stadium larvae were fed trembling aspen leaves (Populus tremuloides Michx (Salicaceae)) supplemented with casein, sucrose, or buffer only (control). No differences in taste responses to the three leaf types were detected. In a cafeteria situation, feeding behaviour over the short term was largely determined by the use of pheromone trails and hence depended on which leaf was contacted first. Over the longer term, caterpillars fed most on the control leaf and the sugar-supplemented leaf and discriminated against the protein-supplemented leaf. Sugar supplementation increased survivorship relative to the control treatment but slowed development and did not affect growth; protein supplementation decreased growth. These findings are consistent with past research comparing forest tent caterpillar performance and feeding preference on different host plants.

Résumé

La qualité nutritionnelle du feuillage dépend du contenu en nutriments primaires et en métabolites secondaires. Ces deux facteurs peuvent influencer le comportement alimentaire et la performance des insectes herbivores, et leur importance relative peut être difficile à déterminer lorsqu'on compare du feuillage de sources différentes. Notre étude évalue les effets du ratio des nutriments primaires, protéines et glucides, dans le feuillage sur le comportement alimentaire et la performance de la livrée des forêts (Malacosoma disstria Hübner (Lepidoptera : Lasiocampidae)). Des larves du quatrième stade ont été nourries avec des feuilles de peuplier faux-tremble (Populus tremuloides Michx (Salicacae)) enduites d'une solution de protéine, de sucre ou témoin. Aucune difference ne fut détectée entre les réponses gustatives aux trois types de feuillage. Lors d'un test cafétaria, le comportement alimentaire à court-terme était déterminé par l'utilisation de pistes de phéromone et donc par le premier contact avec une des trois feuilles. A plus long terme, les chenilles ont surtout consommé la feuille enduite de sucre et la feuille témoin, et ont évité la feuille enduite de protéine. L'augmentation du contenu en sucre a augmenté le taux de survie par rapport à la feuille témoin, mais a retardé le développement, sans effet sur la croissance. L'addition de protéine a diminué la croissance. Ces résultats sont consistents avec les travaux précédents sur le comportement alimentaire et la performance de la livrée sur des arbres hôtes différents.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 138 , Issue 3 , June 2006 , pp. 367 - 375
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2006

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