Oviposition choices of Epirrita autumnata (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) in relation to its eruptive population dynamics

We found that oviposition behaviour is indiscriminative in Epirrita autumnata (Lepidoptera, Geometridae), a species known as a periodical pest of birch forests in northernmost Europe. Oviposition in E. autumnata was not suppressed by low host quality, injured host leaves, or the presence of conspeci...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Oikos 1995-11, Vol.74 (2), p.296-304
Main Authors: Tammaru, T, Kaitaniemi, P, Ruohomaeki, K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
betula
bosques
Branches
dinamica de la poblacion
dynamique des populations
Eggs
Epirrita autumnata
Female animals
finland
finlande
finlandia
forests
foret
Geometridae
Hardwood trees
Insect larvae
Larvae
Leaves
Lepidoptera
Moths
oviposicion
Oviposition
ponte
Population dynamics
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Summary:We found that oviposition behaviour is indiscriminative in Epirrita autumnata (Lepidoptera, Geometridae), a species known as a periodical pest of birch forests in northernmost Europe. Oviposition in E. autumnata was not suppressed by low host quality, injured host leaves, or the presence of conspecific eggs or sex pheromone. Oviposition was not limited to host plants, whereas physical characteristics of the substrate were decisive in oviposition site selection. Therefore, the oviposition behaviour of E. autumnata is typical for an outbreak species and certainly contributes to the eruptive population dynamics of the species. Young larvae are responsible for finding a host plant but their capacity for host selection is rather restricted; larval dispersal cannot compensate for indiscriminative oviposition. Indiscriminative oviposition should not be seen as a phylogenetic constraint in E. autumnata; more probably, it results from selection in favour of large body size in females which reduces their flying ability.
ISSN:0030-1299
1600-0706
DOI:10.2307/3545659