Ecological Entomology (2012) 37, 204-211

Brian J. Mader, Simon P. Daoust, Michael Cardinal-Aucoin, Eric Bauce and Emma Despland (2012)
Larval experience induces adult aversion to rearing host plants: a novel behaviour contrary to Hopkins' host selection principle
Ecological Entomology 37 (3), 204-211
Abstract: 1. Hopkins' host selection principle (HSP) states that insects should prefer foliage from their rearing host plant over that of an alternative host.
2. The current study tested whether eastern spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), that were laid and developed on, respectively, resistant and susceptible white spruce Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, showed differences in their feeding and oviposition preferences for these two hosts.
3. The data revealed that previous experience of spruce budworm on a host tree type does not influence the host acceptance and feeding behaviour of later larval stages. However, adult budworm reared on resistant white spruce needles preferentially selected susceptible white spruce needles as the host for their progeny, whereas those reared on susceptible needles showed no preference.
4. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of an insect showing an oviposition preference for the non-rearing host plant. This would tend to increase mixing between insects from susceptible and resistant trees. The present results thus argue against Hopkins' HSP and suggest that learned aversion to resistant foliage experienced by larvae is carried into the adult stage.
(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): Emma Despland, Eric Bauce

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Choristoneura fumiferana	Spruce (Picea)