Collaborative Research: The Effects of Hostplant Chemistry and Invertebrate Predators on Caterpillar Foraging and Hostplant Fitness

影响觅食模式的两个主要因素 昆虫食草动物是寄主植物化学和自然 敌人. 然而，寄主植物化学的相对重要性 和捕食作用决定昆虫的觅食模式 食草动物和这些因素相互作用的程度是 大部分未知。 寄主植物防御基因的表达范围 化学，使用一个系统的环烯醚萜苷在平原， 将使用克隆的基因型进行控制， 以前的化学特征。 在一个实验花园里， 两种毛虫的觅食模式， 和一个多面手，在缺席和存在两个不同的 各种无脊椎动物的捕食者，黄蜂和臭虫， 评估。 同时，相应的环烯醚萜和 寄主植物的营养化学和环烯醚萜 将测定毛虫的化学性质和生长速率。 此外，由于存在和不存在的植物适应性， 食草动物的捕食者将被检查。 结果将 表明寄主植物化学的相对重要性， 捕食者在确定生态觅食模式的两个 代表性的毛毛虫物种和随之而来的影响 食草动物的寄主植物

Two of the major factors that affect the foraging patterns of insect herbivores are hostplant chemistry and natural enemies. However, the relative importance of hostplant chemistry and predation in determining foraging patterns of insect herbivores and the degree to which these factors interact are largely unknown. The range of expression of hostplant defensive chemistry, using a system of iridoid glycosides in plaintain, will be controlled using cloned genotypes that have been previously characterized chemically. In an experimental garden, the foraging patterns of two caterpillar species, a specialist and a generalist, in the absence and presence of two different kinds of invertebrate predators, wasps and stinkbugs, will be assessed. Concurrently, the corresponding iridoid and nutritional chemistry of the hostplant , and the iridoid chemistry and growth rate of the caterpillars will be determined. In addition, plant fitness due to the presence and absence of the herbivores' predators will be examined. The results will indicate the relative importance of hostplant chemistry and predators in determining the ecology of foraging patterns of two representative caterpillar species and the ensuing effects on the herbivores' hostplant.