Arthropod-Plant Interactions (2015) 9, 141-148

Jennifer S. Thaler, Elena L. Olsen and Ian Kaplan (2015)
Jasmonate-induced plant defenses and prey availability impact the preference and performance of an omnivorous stink bug, Podisus maculiventris
Arthropod-Plant Interactions 9 (2), 141-148
Abstract: Many omnivorous insects are important biological control agents, and their success is influenced by both plant resistance and prey availability. The potential impact of these two factors is complicated by the fact that they may not be independent: Resistant plants also often support fewer herbivorous prey. We studied how lifetime development, growth, fecundity and preference of the omnivorous stink bug, Podisus maculiventris, was affected by jasmonate-induced plant defenses and amount of prey available. P. maculiventris survival was 70 % lower on high-resistance (jasmonate-overexpressing) plants compared to low-resistance (jasmonate-insensitive) plants. However, surviving P. maculiventris grew and achieved equal fecundity on low- and high-resistance plants. When given a choice, P. maculiventris preferred low-resistance plants, but did not differentiate between caterpillar prey reared on high- or low-resistance plants. Low prey availability impacted distinct aspects of P. maculiventris performance: Development time was lengthened, and nymphal and adult mass were reduced, but survival was not impacted. We did not detect any interactive effects between plant resistance and prey availability for any measure of P. maculiventris. Thus, we found remarkably compartmentalized impacts of plant resistance and prey availability for this omnivorous insect.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jennifer S. Thaler

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Podisus maculiventris (predator)			U.S.A. (NE)