Journal of Insect Science (2009) 9 (42), 1-8

T.D. Meehan and R.L. Lindroth (2009)
Scaling of individual phosphorus flux by caterpillars of the whitemarked tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma
Journal of Insect Science 9 (42), 1-8
Abstract: We conducted a laboratory study to evaluate the effects of body mass, environmental temperature, and food quality on phosphorus (P) efflux by caterpillars of the whitemarked tussock moth, Orgyia leucostigma, J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). We found that individual phosphorus efflux rate (Q, the rate at which excreted and unassimilated P was egested in frass, mg P/day) was related to larval mass (M, mg dry) and environmental temperature (T, K) as Q = e14.69M1.00e−0.54/kT, where k is Boltzmann's constant (8.62 × 10⁻⁵ eV/K, 1 eV = 1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ J). We also found that P efflux was not related to food phosphorous concentration, and suggest that this result was due to compensatory feeding by larvae eating low quality leaves. The P efflux model resulting from this analysis was simple and powerful. Thus, it appears that this type of model can be used to scale P flux from individual larvae to the population level and link species of insect herbivores to ecosystem processes.
(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): Richard L. Lindroth

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.
	Orgyia leucostigma