How foraging tactics determine host-plant use by a polyphagous caterpillar

Singer, Michael S.; Stireman, John O.

doi:10.1007/s004420100707

Cited by 58 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(37 reference statements)

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“…Foragers that experience high mortality and costs while searching for ephemeral hosts can be expected to have host-seeking behaviors that emphasize detectability over quality (Ward, 1987;. In contrast to highly mobile flying adults, the set of potential hosts available to a foraging caterpillar is greatly reduced and widely dispersed due to the "small-scale" search capabilities imposed by the slow speed of crawling (Singer and Stireman, 2001;. To a foraging caterpillar with limited mobility and search capabilities, the costs encountered with not locating an appropriate host plant may outweigh the risks associated with an induced host plant.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These larvae forage when suitable food sources are exhausted (Singer and Stireman, 2001), thus avoiding natural enemies (Bernays, 1997;Singer and Stireman, 2003), reducing competitive interactions (Kakimoto et al, 2003), limiting exposure to toxins or balancing nutrients (Singer and Stireman, 2001;Singer et al, 2002), or compensating for suboptimal oviposition choices by females (Beredegué et al, 1992;Roitberg and Mangel, 1993;Doak, 2000). These herbivores rely, to varying degrees, on visual and olfactory cues to orient to new host plants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Attraction of Spodoptera frugiperda Larvae to Volatiles from Herbivore-Damaged Maize Seedlings

et al. 2006

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Plants respond to insect attack with the induction of volatiles that function as indirect plant defenses through the attraction of natural enemies to the herbivores. Despite the fact that volatiles are induced in response to caterpillar attack, their reciprocal effects on the host location behaviors of the same foraging herbivores are poorly understood. We examined orientation responses of sixth instar fall armyworm [FAW; Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith)] to odors from herbivore-damaged and undamaged maize seedlings (Zea mays var. Golden Queen) in y-tube olfactometer bioassays. While both damaged and undamaged maize seedlings were attractive compared with air, sixth instars preferred odors from damaged maize seedlings over odors from undamaged maize seedlings. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of plant volatiles revealed that linalool and 4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene were the major volatiles induced by FAW herbivory 6 hr after initial damage. Given its prominence in induced plants and established attractiveness to adult FAW, linalool was evaluated both as an individual attractant and as a supplemental component of whole plant odors. Volatile linalool was more attractive than air to sixth instar FAW over a broad range of release rates. FAW also responded selectively to different amounts of linalool, preferring the higher amount. The orientation preferences of FAW were readily manipulated through capillary release of linalool into the airstream of whole plant odors. FAW preferred linalool over undamaged plant odors, and linalool-supplemented plant odors over unsupplemented plant odors, indicating that olfactory preferences could be changed by alteration of a single volatile component. These results suggest that although many induced volatiles attract natural enemies of herbivores, these defenses may also inadvertently recruit more larval herbivores to an attacked plant or neighboring conspecifics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attraction of Spodoptera frugiperda Larvae to Volatiles from Herbivore-Damaged Maize Seedlings

et al. 2006

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“…Grammia incorrupta (formerly G. geneura) (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) caterpillars feed on over 80 species of plants from nearly 50 phylogenetically disparate plant families (Singer and Stireman 2001;Singer et al 2002). These herbivores eat mainly forbs in grassland and savanna habitats of the southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico (Singer 2001).…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complex effects of parasitoids on pharmacophagy and diet choice of a polyphagous caterpillar

et al. 2010

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This study investigates complex effects of parasitoid infection on herbivore diet choice. Specifically, we examine how immunological resistance, parasitoid infection stage, and parasitoid taxonomic identity affect the pharmacophagous behavior of the polyphagous caterpillar, Grammia incorrupta (Arctiidae). Using a combination of lab and field experiments, we test the caterpillar's pharmacophagous response to pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) over the course of parasitoid infection, as well as the effect of dietary PAs on the caterpillar's immunological response. Previous work from other systems gave the prediction that dietary PAs would be detrimental to the immune response and thus less acceptable to feeding early in the infection, when encapsulation of the parasitoid is most crucial. We found that the feeding acceptability of PAs was indeed low for caterpillars with early-stage parasitoid infections; however, this was not explained by PA interference with immune function. When allowed to choose among three host plant species, individuals harboring early-stage parasitoids increased their consumption of a nutritious plant containing antioxidants. This result was driven by wasp-parasitized caterpillars, whereas fly-parasitized caterpillars increased their consumption of plants containing iridoid glycosides. Individuals in the later time phase of infection exhibited an increase in PA intake that was consistent with previously reported self-medication behavior during late-stage parasitoid infection. This study reveals the depth of complexity and the dynamic nature of herbivore host plant choice, and underscores the importance of considering multitrophic interactions when studying insect diet choice.

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“…Grammia incorrupta caterpillars are grazing generalist herbivores, feeding on over 80 species of plants in 50 different plant families (Singer and Stireman, 2001). This species inhabits arid grasslands and woodlands of southwestern USA and northwestern Mexico (Schmidt and Sperling, 2008).…”

Section: Study Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced consumption of protein-rich foods follows immune challenge in a polyphagous caterpillar

Mason

Smilanich

Singer

2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Advances in ecological immunity have illustrated that, like vertebrates, insects exhibit adaptive immunity, including induced changes in feeding behavior that aid the immune system. In particular, recent studies have pointed to the importance of protein intake in mounting an immune response. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the polyphagous caterpillar Grammia incorrupta (H. Edwards) (Family: Erebidae) would adaptively change its feeding behavior in response to immune challenge, predicting that caterpillars would increase their intake of dietary protein. We further predicted that this response would enhance the melanization response, a component of the immune system that acts against parasitoids. We challenged the immune system using either tachinid fly parasitoids or a bead injection technique that has been used in studies to simulate parasitism, and measured feeding before and after immune challenge on diets varying in their macronutrient content. To evaluate the effects of diet on melanization, we quantified melanization of beads following feeding assays. Contrary to our prediction, we found that parasitized or injected caterpillars given a choice between high-and low-protein foods reduced their intake of the high-protein food. Furthermore, in a no-choice experiment, caterpillars offered food with a protein concentration that is optimal for growth reduced feeding following immune challenge, whereas those offered a low-protein food did not. Although variation in protein intake did not change the caterpillars' melanization response, increased carbohydrate intake did increase melanization, suggesting a prophylactic role for carbohydrates. We discuss alternative mechanisms by which variation in protein intake could negatively or positively affect parasitized caterpillars, including nutritional interactions with the caterpillar's self-medication response.

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How foraging tactics determine host-plant use by a polyphagous caterpillar

Cited by 58 publications

References 40 publications

Attraction of Spodoptera frugiperda Larvae to Volatiles from Herbivore-Damaged Maize Seedlings

Attraction of Spodoptera frugiperda Larvae to Volatiles from Herbivore-Damaged Maize Seedlings

Complex effects of parasitoids on pharmacophagy and diet choice of a polyphagous caterpillar

Reduced consumption of protein-rich foods follows immune challenge in a polyphagous caterpillar

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