A General Model for Host Plant Selection in Phytophagous Insects

Authors: WEST S.A.¹; PAUL CUNNINGHAM J.^{1, 2}

Source: Journal of Theoretical Biology, Volume 214, Number 3, February 2002 , pp. 499-513(15)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $52.63 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

We develop a general theoretical framework for exploring the host plant selection behaviour of herbivorous insects. This model can be used to address a number of questions, including the evolution of specialists, generalists, preference hierarchies, and learning. We use our model to: (i) demonstrate the consequences of the extent to which the reproductive success of a foraging female is limited by the rate at which they find host plants (host limitation) or the number of eggs they carry (egg limitation); (ii) emphasize the different consequences of variation in behaviour before and after landing on (locating) a host (termed pre- and post-alighting, respectively); (iii) show that, in contrast to previous predictions, learning can be favoured in post-alighting behaviour—in particular, individuals can be selected to concentrate oviposition on an abundant low-quality host, whilst ignoring a rare higher-quality host; (iv) emphasize the importance of interactions between mechanisms in favouring specialization or learning. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, U.K. 2: Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia

Publication date: 2002-02-01