Differential Performance of Tropical Soda Apple and Its Biological Control Agent Gratiana boliviana (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Open and Shaded Habitats

Díaz, Rodrigo; Aguirre, Carlos Antonio; Wheeler, Gregory S.; Lapointe, Stephen L.; Rosskopf, Erin N.; Overholt, William A.

doi:10.1603/en11203

Cited by 20 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Although we did not measure leaf characteristics (physical and chemical features), we hypothesised that the heavier pupal mass for SAB females might be a direct response to host plant characteristics (Wheeler & Center, 1997;Diaz et al, 2011)as insect preference and performance can be driven by plant traits which are occasionally difficult to disentangle (Jermy, 1984;Bernays & Chapman, 1994;Clissold et al, 2006;Hull-Sanders et al, 2007) because of the multiplicity of indirect biotic and abiotic effects that may explain a correlation (Hunter & Price, 1998). Although we did not measure leaf characteristics (physical and chemical features), we hypothesised that the heavier pupal mass for SAB females might be a direct response to host plant characteristics (Wheeler & Center, 1997;Diaz et al, 2011)as insect preference and performance can be driven by plant traits which are occasionally difficult to disentangle (Jermy, 1984;Bernays & Chapman, 1994;Clissold et al, 2006;Hull-Sanders et al, 2007) because of the multiplicity of indirect biotic and abiotic effects that may explain a correlation (Hunter & Price, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in host plant has no effect on the performance and fitness‐related traits of the specialist herbivore Pareuchaetes insulata

Uyi

Hill

Zachariades

2014

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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The effect of host plant dissimilarity on insect preference and performance was tested using two morphological forms of Chromolaena odorata (L.) King & Robinson (Asteraceae) (one from Florida, USA, another from South Africa), and a specialist herbivore, Pareuchaetes insulata (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) from Florida, USA, that was introduced as a biological control agent in South Africa. Although this insect did establish at one site, of some 21 sites at which over 800 000 individuals were released, its population level in the field has remained low after an initial outbreak in 2006. To explain the poor performance of P. insulata, we hypothesised that P. insulata larvae prefer Floridian C. odorata to the southern African C. odorata, which is morphologically and probably genetically distinct, and that larvae reared on Floridian C. odorata should have higher fitness and performance. We tested this by comparing insect performance metrics on each of the two plant forms in laboratory experiments. Apart from pupal mass, which was significantly greater on southern African C. odorata, P. insulata performance metrics were similar on both plant forms; there were no significant differences in total leaf area consumed, egg and larval development, immature survival rates, feeding index, host suitability index, growth index, and fecundity between the Floridian and southern African C. odorata plants. In sum, we could not demonstrate that differences in plant forms in C. odorata are responsible for the poor performance of P. insulata in South Africa.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in host plant has no effect on the performance and fitness‐related traits of the specialist herbivore Pareuchaetes insulata

Uyi

Hill

Zachariades

2014

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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“…Furthermore, the multiple-choice test indicated that S. mauritianum was not a host when grown in full sun but that it was accepted as a host plant when grown under partial shade conditions. This Þnding indicates that plant-related changes inßuenced host preference of C. hybrida, and provides an explanation for the ambiguous (false positive and false negative) results observed during quarantine evaluations, as was suggested by van Klinken (1999) and Diaz et al (2011). In addition to their physiological role in reducing water loss due to transpiration (Young and Smith 1980), trichomes have been reported to play a role in plant defense (Levin 1973, Johnson 1975, Southwood 1986, although contradictory results were reported by Andres and Connor (2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

“…The main focus in understanding the underlying cause for such ambiguous results has been on insect behavioral aspects such as disruption of host perception owing to captivity, motivational status, prior experience, and learning (Blossey et al 1994, Olckers et al 1995, Heard 2000, Withers et al 2000, Sheppard et al 2005), whereas only a few studies have focused on the aspect of changes in plant quality owing to the growth conditions (van Klinken 1999, Diaz et al 2011 in environmental chambers, glasshouses or shade nets where test plants are grown Borea 2009, Hakizimana andOlckers 2013). …”

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confidence: 99%

“…Less attention has been given to morphological traits such as trichome density, and results often were not deÞnitive (Bentz 2003, Guerra et al 2010. Some studies indicated a reduction in leaf trichome density under shade conditions (Young and Smith 1980, Pé rez-Estrada et al 2000, McGuire and Agrawal 2005, Diaz et al 2011, whereas others found an increase in density (Lill et al 2006). Furthermore, the effect of trichomes on herbivores may be positive, negative, or nonexistent depending on the plant or herbivore species (Southwood 1986, Moran 1986.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Abiotically-Induced Plant Morphological Changes and Host-Range Expansion in Quarantine Evaluations of Candidate Weed Biocontrol Agents: The Case StudyConchyloctenia hybrida(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

et al. 2014

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Plant morphological changes mediated by growth conditions are linked to changes in host preference of herbivores. Understanding how these morphological changes inßuence herbivore feeding is critical in the interpretation of results of host evaluation of candidate weed biocontrol agents in quarantine and improvement of the evaluation system. We determined the effect of plant growth conditions on leaf trichomes and host choice of Conchyloctenia hybrida Boheman, an insect adapted to the removal of trichomes before feeding. The study included four Solanum species: Solanum lichtensteinii Willdenow (natural host of C. hybrida), Solanum mauritianum Scopoli, Solanum melongena L., and Solanum tuberosum L.. Plants were grown in either full sun, shade, a glasshouse, or in a growth-chamber. Plants grown in full sun had a higher leaf trichome density than those in shade or controlled environments. S. mauritianum had the highest trichome density and thickness of trichome layer. In a multiple-choice test using excised leaves, feeding by C. hybrida was higher on Solanum plants grown in the controlled environment as compared with full sun. Trichome removal from leaf surfaces of plants grown in full sun, using adhesive tape, was effective for S. lichtensteinii, S. mauritianum, and S. melongena, but not S. tuberosum. Leaf consumption by C. hybrida increased signiÞcantly where manual trichome removal using adhesive tape was effective. Structurally, leaves of S. tuberosum have simple trichomes with basal cells sunken into the mesophyll tissue. When using forceps to remove trichomes of S. tuberosum, mesophyll and vascular tissue remained attached to the trichomes. Generally, the type, density, and mat-thickness of leaf trichomes determined feeding by C. hybrida, but varied with plant species and growth conditions.

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“…(Lincoln and Mooney 1984, Reynolds and Crossley 1997, Schile and Mopper 2006. The beetle Gratiana boliviana Spaeth, for example, causes greater levels of damage to Solanum viarum Dunal in shaded vs. full sun habitats (Diaz et al 2011). Based on habitat preferences in its native range, it was predicted that L. trifida gall densities and associated herbivory levels would be greatest in longer vs. shorter hydroperiods in Florida wetland systems.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Establishment, Population Increase, Spread, and Ecological Host Range ofLophodiplosis trifida(Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a Biological Control Agent of the Invasive TreeMelaleuca quinquenervia(Myrtales: Myrtaceae)

et al. 2013

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The Australian tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cavanilles) Blake is an invasive weed in wetland systems of Florida. A biological control program targeting M. quinquenervia has resulted in the release of the gall forming midge Lophodiplosis trifida Gagné (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Populations of the introduced herbivore readily established at all 24 release sites across the weed's range in Florida, and there was no evidence that founding colony size (100, 2,000, or 6,000 adults) influenced herbivore establishment or local population growth rates. Landscape level spread of L. trifida from release sites averaged nearly 6 km/yr, ranging as high as 14.4 km/yr. Prerelease host range testing predicted that L. trifida oviposits indiscriminately on test plant species but does not complete development on any of the test species, including congeners present in Florida. To test the predictability of these host range tests, L. trifida was released in a common garden consisting of 18 test plant species that were interplanted with M. quinquenervia. Plant species postulated to be at risk experienced no gall development by L. trifida while intermingled M. quinquenervia trees supported 704.8 (± 158.5) galls per plant. Historically, many introduced Cecidomyiidae have limited effect on plant performance of target weeds because of recruitment of native parasitoids that disrupt biological control efficacy. In contrast to this trend, there has been no evidence to date that parasitoids are exploiting L. trifida in Florida.

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Differential Performance of Tropical Soda Apple and Its Biological Control Agent Gratiana boliviana (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Open and Shaded Habitats

Cited by 20 publications

References 58 publications

Variation in host plant has no effect on the performance and fitness‐related traits of the specialist herbivore Pareuchaetes insulata

Variation in host plant has no effect on the performance and fitness‐related traits of the specialist herbivore Pareuchaetes insulata

Abiotically-Induced Plant Morphological Changes and Host-Range Expansion in Quarantine Evaluations of Candidate Weed Biocontrol Agents: The Case StudyConchyloctenia hybrida(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Establishment, Population Increase, Spread, and Ecological Host Range ofLophodiplosis trifida(Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a Biological Control Agent of the Invasive TreeMelaleuca quinquenervia(Myrtales: Myrtaceae)

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