Does host plant quality affect the oviposition decisions of an omnivore?

Insect Science
Meghan A Vankosky, Sherah L VanLaerhoven

Abstract

Optimal oviposition theory predicts a positive relationship between female preference for oviposition hosts and offspring performance. Interspecies effects on oviposition preference have been widely investigated, especially for herbivores. However, intraspecies variation, such as nitrogen content, might also influence female preference for oviposition hosts and subsequent offspring performance. To evaluate this possibility, we investigated the oviposition preference of a zoophytophagous omnivore and the development and survival of its nymphs on a single species of host plant that varied in nitrogen content. In choice and no-choice experiments without prey, female omnivores were allowed to oviposit on plants that had been fertilized using 4 rates of nitrogen fertilizer (39, 78, 156, and 311 mg/L nitrogen) for 72 h. After 72 h, the most females were found on tomato plants receiving high concentrations of nitrogen fertilizer and more eggs were laid on those plants. First instar nymphs developed more rapidly on high-nitrogen plants and third instar nymphs developed faster on low-nitrogen plants. Plant nitrogen did not affect nymph survival to the adult stage, or the probability of survival over time. Although female omnivores did d...Continue Reading

References

Dec 1, 1978·Theoretical Population Biology·J Jaenike
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Jun 22, 2001·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·J ScheirsR Verhagen
Dec 1, 2001·Annual Review of Entomology·Moshe Coll, Moshe Guershon
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