Oecologia (2003) 135, 258-267

E.L. Zvereva and N.E. Rank (2003)
Host plant effects on parasitoid attack on the leaf beetle Chrysomela lapponica
Oecologia 135 (2), 258-267
Abstract: Larvae of the leaf beetle Chrysomela lapponica obtain salicyl glucosides (SGs) from the host plant to produce a defensive secretion with salicylaldehyde. In northern Russia, larvae and pupae experience high parasitism by the phorid fly Megaselia opacicornis and tachinid fly Cleonice nitidiuscula. We compared the suitability of the SG-rich Salix borealis and SG-poor S. caprea and S. phylicifolia to Ch. lapponica and tested whether enemy pressure on Ch. lapponica varies among host species that differ in SG content. In the laboratory, survival of Ch. lapponica larvae was higher on S. borealis than on S. caprea and S. phylicifolia, while adult body mass was higher on S. borealis and S. caprea than on S. phylicifolia. In the field, parasitism by both M. opacicornis and Cl. nitidiuscula was greater on beetles from S. borealis than from the SG-poor S. caprea or S. phylicifolia. In a laboratory choice test, the pupal parasitoid M. opacicornis laid similar numbers of eggs on beetles reared on SG-rich and SG-poor willows, suggesting that the host plant-derived defence is not effective against this parasitoid. In a field enemy-exclusion experiment, beetle survival was greatly enhanced by the exclusion of enemies, but survival rates did not differ between S. borealis and S. caprea, although larvae developed faster on S. borealis. On the other hand, parasitism and predation were observed more often on S. borealis than on S. caprea. Thus, beetle larvae perform better but also suffer higher predation and parasitism on S. borealis than on SG-poor willows. Ch. lapponica does not appear to obtain enemy-free space by feeding on SG-rich willow species.
(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): Elena L. Zvereva

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
environment/habitat manipulation
resistance/tolerance/defence of host

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Chrysomela lapponica	Willow (Salix)
Megaselia opacicornis (parasitoid)	Chrysomela lapponica	Willow (Salix)
Cleonice nitidiuscula (parasitoid)	Chrysomela lapponica	Willow (Salix)