Environmental Entomology (1993) 22, 1294-1301

Paul C. Marino and Howard V. Cornell (1993)
Adult feeding and oviposition of Phytomyza ilicicola (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in response to leaf and tree phenology
Environmental Entomology 22 (6), 1294-1301
Abstract: The influence of leaf phenology on host discrimination by Phytomyza ilicicola Loew was explored in the laboratory by examining the influences of leaf age-shoot position on adult feeding and oviposition and leaf age only (independent of relative leaf position on expanding shoots) on adult feeding. The relationship between adult feeding and shoot phenology among trees was also examined in 10 American hollies, Ilex opaca Aiton, growing under natural forested conditions. Three age-position classes of leaves were recognized on new growth in the spring: young folded leaves at shoot tips, expanding leaves at midshoot, and fully expanded hardening leaves at the base of shoots. For leaf age-position, feeding by adult P. ilicicola was similar on expanding leaves and fully expanded leaves and 3.6 times greater on shoot tip leaves than on expanding and fully expanded leaves. For leaf age independent of position, feeding by adult P. ilicicola was 9 times greater on expanding leaves than on fully expanded leaves and 20.7 and 2.2 times greater, respectively, on shoot tip leaves than on fully expanded leaves and expanding leaves. Oviposition was independent of leaf age and position on new shoots. There was no relationship between tree phenology and intensity of feeding under natural conditions.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phytomyza ilicicola	Ilex (crop)	U.S.A. (NE)