Effects of host plant growth form on dropping behaviour in leaf beetles

Abstract Many leaf-eating insects drop from their host plants to escape predators. However, they must return the leaves of plant after dropping, which represents a cost associated with this behaviour. In woody plants, positioning is generally higher than that herbaceous suggests dropping might be costlier for plants. Therefore, we predicted behaviour would observed less frequently in feed on those leaves. To test prediction, investigated experimentally larvae (23 species) and adults (112 leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) (86 species 44 families) field conditions. Larvae exhibited pattern was not detected adults. Thus, growth form affect evolution beetle larvae, but winged adults, perhaps owing mobility.