Host Specificity in Canopy Nesting Forms of <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i>: The Larger Children Do Not Care
The ‘mother knows best’ hypothesis is tested in a species of processionary moth feeding on acacias and eucalypts in Australia. The processionary moth <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i> (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae; Thaumetopoeinae) is a social caterpillar living in large colonies on a number of tr...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/5/420 |
| _version_ | 1797599668040892416 |
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| author | Julianne Farrell Myron P. Zalucki Andrea Battisti |
| author_facet | Julianne Farrell Myron P. Zalucki Andrea Battisti |
| author_sort | Julianne Farrell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The ‘mother knows best’ hypothesis is tested in a species of processionary moth feeding on acacias and eucalypts in Australia. The processionary moth <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i> (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae; Thaumetopoeinae) is a social caterpillar living in large colonies on a number of tree and shrub species. Five nesting types—canopy, trunk, tree-hugger, hanging, and ground—have been described, and this study deals with canopy nesters on various species of acacias (<i>Acacia</i> spp.) and eucalypts (<i>Eucalyptus</i> spp. and <i>Corymbia</i> spp.). Reciprocal transplant experiments conducted over three years confirm the ‘mother knows best’ hypothesis, as colonies performed better on the natal host plant than on the recipient ones. Young first instar larvae were less likely to establish on a non-natal host than the mature larvae, and all acacia-sourced canopy egg masses failed to establish on eucalypts. Large larvae were able to establish on transplant hosts. This suggests a strong preference–performance link at what is likely a species level, confirming preliminary results recently published on genetic divergence. Canopy nesting forms also have a lower realised fecundity than the ground nesting form on acacias from the same geographic area, but higher than another canopy nesting form from western Australia. Further observations on ecological and genetic traits are required to draw conclusions about the separation of lineages in the canopy nesting form of <i>O. lunifer</i>, by including populations from other parts of the range for both the herbivore and the host plants. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:38:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7636ba15520d416badc9d3984cd8f7a9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T03:38:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-7636ba15520d416badc9d3984cd8f7a92023-11-18T01:49:38ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-04-0114542010.3390/insects14050420Host Specificity in Canopy Nesting Forms of <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i>: The Larger Children Do Not CareJulianne Farrell0Myron P. Zalucki1Andrea Battisti2School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4072, AustraliaSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4072, AustraliaDepartment DAFNAE, University of Padova, Agripolis Campus, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyThe ‘mother knows best’ hypothesis is tested in a species of processionary moth feeding on acacias and eucalypts in Australia. The processionary moth <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i> (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae; Thaumetopoeinae) is a social caterpillar living in large colonies on a number of tree and shrub species. Five nesting types—canopy, trunk, tree-hugger, hanging, and ground—have been described, and this study deals with canopy nesters on various species of acacias (<i>Acacia</i> spp.) and eucalypts (<i>Eucalyptus</i> spp. and <i>Corymbia</i> spp.). Reciprocal transplant experiments conducted over three years confirm the ‘mother knows best’ hypothesis, as colonies performed better on the natal host plant than on the recipient ones. Young first instar larvae were less likely to establish on a non-natal host than the mature larvae, and all acacia-sourced canopy egg masses failed to establish on eucalypts. Large larvae were able to establish on transplant hosts. This suggests a strong preference–performance link at what is likely a species level, confirming preliminary results recently published on genetic divergence. Canopy nesting forms also have a lower realised fecundity than the ground nesting form on acacias from the same geographic area, but higher than another canopy nesting form from western Australia. Further observations on ecological and genetic traits are required to draw conclusions about the separation of lineages in the canopy nesting form of <i>O. lunifer</i>, by including populations from other parts of the range for both the herbivore and the host plants.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/5/420Australia<i>Acacia</i><i>Eucalyptus</i><i>Corymbia</i>processionary mothtransplant |
| spellingShingle | Julianne Farrell Myron P. Zalucki Andrea Battisti Host Specificity in Canopy Nesting Forms of <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i>: The Larger Children Do Not Care Insects Australia <i>Acacia</i> <i>Eucalyptus</i> <i>Corymbia</i> processionary moth transplant |
| title | Host Specificity in Canopy Nesting Forms of <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i>: The Larger Children Do Not Care |
| title_full | Host Specificity in Canopy Nesting Forms of <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i>: The Larger Children Do Not Care |
| title_fullStr | Host Specificity in Canopy Nesting Forms of <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i>: The Larger Children Do Not Care |
| title_full_unstemmed | Host Specificity in Canopy Nesting Forms of <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i>: The Larger Children Do Not Care |
| title_short | Host Specificity in Canopy Nesting Forms of <i>Ochrogaster lunifer</i>: The Larger Children Do Not Care |
| title_sort | host specificity in canopy nesting forms of i ochrogaster lunifer i the larger children do not care |
| topic | Australia <i>Acacia</i> <i>Eucalyptus</i> <i>Corymbia</i> processionary moth transplant |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/5/420 |
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