Speciation in phytophagous insects : Assessment of manifold effects of host change on reproductive isolation

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Effects of host change on the reproductive isolation of phytophagous specialists were studied using phytophagous ladybird beetles and leaf beetles. Host shift has resulted in nearly complete reproductive isolation between two pairs of specialist species/populations by ecological isolation. In addition, in temperate regions, phenological differences between two potential host plants affected oviposition and/or diapause schedules of phytophages. Examples were also given for parallel host shift, rapid host shift, beetle plasticity in ability to utilize various potential host plants, and effects of host quality variation on the host selection of beetles.