Leaf age and life history variables of a leafminer: the case of Liriomyza trifolii on potato leaves

Abstract

Field observations and laboratory experiments have demonstrated that infestation by the serpentine leaf miner, Liriomyza trifolii Burgess (Diptera: Agromyzidae), begins in the lower leaves of the potato plant, and proceeds through the middle leaves to those of the upper canopy. In choice and no-choice experiments, mated adult L. trifolii females were given access for 48 h to potato plants, and caged on differently aged leaves. The extent of their feeding and oviposition on the 5-7 leaflets of the upper, middle, and lower leaves were recorded. The life history variables of the next generation were estimated: percentage egg hatch, number of mines formed, larval survival, number of pupae formed, size and weight of pupae, percentage pupation, number of adults formed, percentage emergence, size and weight of adults, sex ratio, adult longevity, and their reproductive performance. The results showed that L. trifolii females laid fewer eggs on the upper leaves, which were poor hosts for larvae. However, a comparison of oviposition behavior between the middle and lower leaves showed that the data did not fit the oviposition preference-offspring performance hypothesis, which postulates that females preferentially oviposit on hosts on which larvae perform best. Females exhibited a preference for the larger, older, lower leaves, although the middle leaves were superior for the growth and development of the young stages. It is hypothesized that adult ovipositional preference for the older, larger, and thicker leaves of the lower foliage may be influenced by factors other than resource quality for larvae.

Population dynamics and damage caused by the leafminer Liriomyza huidobrensis blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae), on seven potato processing varieties grown in temperate environment

“…However, when eggs are laid in a mature leaf, the extrusion is virtually inexistent and once the eggs are hatched, the Table 2 Pearson correlation coefficients between sampling dates related to damage scale (upper part), and significance values (lower part). larvae start to mine the mesophyll , Facknath 2005. Similar results were found by Videla & Valladares (2007) in Argentina, in young potato plants of the variety Spunta.…”

Choosing between good and better: optimal oviposition drives host plant selection when parents and offspring agree on best resources

“…cicla. Thus, optimization of adult performance could be expected (Scheirs et al 2000(Scheirs et al , 2004Facknath 2005). Nonetheless, feeding choices were much more variable and labile than ovipositing decisions, according to the present results and Videla et al (2010).…”

“…Plants were replaced every 24 h and the exposed leaf was carefully examined under stereomicroscope to record the number of feeding punctures and eggs. Longevity and realized fecundity (as total and daily number of eggs laid) were recorded as indicators of adult performance (Scheirs et al 2000(Scheirs et al , 2004Scheirs and De Bruyn 2002a;Facknath 2005). Six replicates were obtained on V faba and Wve on B. v. var.…”

“…Several authors have advocated the integration of optimal foraging and optimal oviposition theories in host plant selection and related Welds of insect-plant interactions research (Mayhew 2001;Scheirs and De Bruyn 2002a;Forister et al 2009). However, studies simultaneously addressing both theories are still rare (Scheirs et al 2000(Scheirs et al , 2004Scheirs and De Bruyn 2002a;Facknath 2005;Forister et al 2009) and generally overlook the possible role of enemy-free space.…”

Neem chemicals disturb the behavioral response of Liriomyza huidobrensis to conspecific-induced potato volatiles

“…Previous studies have shown that Liriomyza spp. prefer older leaves (located lower down on the plant) to the younger ones (located at the top of the plant) and tend to aggregate on the lower older leaves for feeding and development [27]. The authors further suggest that the larger surface area and fewer trichomes of older leaves as compared to the younger ones may initially attract the Liriomyza spp.…”