Heterogeneity of Lycopodium clavatum patches and the distribution and herbivory strategy of Notodontid moth larvae and their Ichneumonid parasites, September 2002

Creator

Brad J. Oberle

Files

Publication Date

September 2002

Abstract

In this study, a novel system in which a notodontid moth larva (Family Notodontidae) uses Lycopodium clavatum (Family Lycopodiaceae), a cosmopotlitainly distributed clubmoss, as a hostplant. The larva and itself is host to no fewer than three parasitoid wasp species, including two ectoparasites, one of which is from the Ichneumonid genus Netelia. Distribution of larvae and damage to reproductive structures by larvae within the L. clavatum population are explained in terms of potential resource preference by the larvae. Larvae do not exhibit any measurable preference for reproductive structures with a given number of stobili, a character known to be associated with different cytotypes of this highly variable plant species.The findings indicate that distribution of larvae and their patterns of herbivory must be explained either using other characters of the host plant, or are due to other factors such as oviposition behavior of parent moths and parasitoids.

Resumen

En este papel se describe un sistema nuevo donde la larva de una polilla de la familia Notodontidae no identificada utiliza Lycopodium clavatum, (Familia Lycopodiaceae), un licopodio que se encuentra por todo el mundo, como planta-anfitrion. La larva propia es anfitrión para tres especies de avispas parasíticas, incluyendo una del género Netelia (Familia Ichneumonidae). La distribución de las larvas y su daño a las estructuras reproductoras de L. clavatum se explica cómo preferencia de las larvas para recursos. Las larvas no prefieren las estructuras reproductoras con numéros de estróbilos diferentes, un carácter que se relaciona con variedades diferentes de esta planta variablisima. Los datos presentados indican que la distribución de las larvas y su herbívoro necesitan otra explicación, como otros caracteres de la planta o el comportamiento de las polillas adultas y los parásitos.

Extent

9 pages

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute

Language

English; Spanish

Media Type

Articles

Format

Digital Only

Identifier

M39-00105

Type

Book

Recommended Citation

Oberle, Brad J., "Heterogeneity of Lycopodium clavatum patches and the distribution and herbivory strategy of Notodontid moth larvae and their Ichneumonid parasites, September 2002" (2002). Monteverde Institute: Tropical Ecology and Conservation. 486.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/486