Oviposition preferences of herbivores are affected by tritrophic interaction webs

Two tritrophic systems were experimentally coupled in the present study. One system consisted of a cabbage plant (Brassica oleracea), diamondback moth larvae (Plutella xylostella) and their parasitic wasp (Cotesia plutellae). The other system consisted of a cabbage plant, cabbage butterfly (Pieris r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology letters 2002-03, Vol.5 (2), p.186-192
Main Authors: Shiojiri, Kaori, Takabayashi, Junji, Yano, Shuichi, Takafuji, Akio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Braconidae
Brassica oleracea
Cotesia glomerata
Cotesia plutellae
enemy-dense space
enemy-free space
oviposition preference
parasitism
Pieridae
Pieris rapae
Plutella xylostella
Plutellidae
tritrophic interaction
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Summary:Two tritrophic systems were experimentally coupled in the present study. One system consisted of a cabbage plant (Brassica oleracea), diamondback moth larvae (Plutella xylostella) and their parasitic wasp (Cotesia plutellae). The other system consisted of a cabbage plant, cabbage butterfly (Pieris rapae) larvae and their parasitic wasp (Cotesia glomerata). First, we demonstrated that parasitism by C. glomerata and C. plutellae increased and decreased, respectively, on plants infested by both herbivore species than on plants infested by their host larvae alone. We then demonstrated that adult Pl. xylostella oviposited preferentially on plants infested with Pi. rapae, whereas adult Pi. rapae revealed no significant preferences between uninfested plants or plants infested with Pl. xylostella. Based on the present results and those of our previous study, we discuss the oviposition preferences of herbivores in tritrophic contexts.
ISSN:1461-023X
1461-0248
DOI:10.1046/j.1461-0248.2002.00292.x