Experience induces a phytophagous insect to lay eggs on a nonhost plant

J Chem Ecol. 2006 Apr;32(4):745-53. doi: 10.1007/s10886-006-9032-0. Epub 2006 Apr 4.

Abstract

Experience of nonhost plants by phytophagous insects may alter their foraging and oviposition responses to these plants. Using the diamondback moth (DBM) Plutella xylostella (L.), its host-plant Chinese cabbage, and a nonhost-plant Pisum sativum (pea) as a model system, we examined whether experience of the nonhost plant by adults can induce oviposition on the nonhost plant. Naive DBM females did not accept pea for oviposition in either no-choice or choice conditions, whereas females with prior experience of pea laid up to 20% of their eggs on this plant. Naive females reduced their oviposition, but experienced females did not refrain from laying eggs in a nonhost-plant environment. Such habituation to nonhost plants could lead to host range expansion in phytophagous insects and increase mortality of pest insects in diversified crop systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brassica / parasitology*
  • Female
  • Host-Parasite Interactions
  • Moths / physiology*
  • Oviposition
  • Pisum sativum / parasitology*