Selective avoidance by vertebrate frugivores of green holly berries infested with a cecidomyiid fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

Green fruits of Ilex opaca infested with larvae of the holly berry midge Asphondylia ilicicola Foote (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) were eaten less during the winter and spring than uninfested red fruits. These results indicate that fly larvae, and their associated fungus, interact with berry physiology t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American midland naturalist 1989-04, Vol.121 (2), p.350-354
Main Authors: Krischik, V. (University of Maryland, College Park), McCloud, E.S, Davidson, J.A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal behavior
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
ASPHONDYLIA
Asphondylia ilicicola
Autoecology
Berries
Biological and medical sciences
Birds
Branches
Cecidomyiidae
CHAMPIGNON
ECOLOGIA
ECOLOGIE
ECOLOGY
Flowers & plants
Fruits
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
FUNGI
GRAZING
HERBIVORE
HERBIVORES
HERBIVOROS
ILEX
ILEX OPACA
Insect larvae
Insects
LARVAE
LARVAS
LARVE
MARYLAND
Midges
PASTOREO
PATURAGE
Protozoa. Invertebrata
Ripening
unpalatability
unripe fruit
VERTEBRADOS
VERTEBRATES
VERTEBRE
Winter
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Description
Summary:Green fruits of Ilex opaca infested with larvae of the holly berry midge Asphondylia ilicicola Foote (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) were eaten less during the winter and spring than uninfested red fruits. These results indicate that fly larvae, and their associated fungus, interact with berry physiology to prevent the fruit from changing color, thereby protecting the larvae from frugivory until spring when the midge emerges and starts the cycle again by laying eggs in holly flowers.
ISSN:0003-0031
1938-4238
DOI:10.2307/2426039