The larvae of the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Dru.), though vulnerable to cyanide poisoning, consume the cyanogenic leaves of black cherry, Prunus serotina, without apparent harm. The cyanide contents of leaves, defensive regurgitant, the bolus, and frass were assayed by ion chromatography to determine the fate of the toxin in the caterpillar. Leaves collected in September, when the caterpi...

Reinhold Deml Lehrstuhl für Tierökologie II, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany. E-mail: [email protected] Z. Naturforsch. 56c, 89-94 (2001); received September 12/October 18, 2000 Chemical Defense, Saturniidae, Secondary Compounds Scolus secretions and hemolymph of caterpillars of Satumia pyri fed with two different foodplants (Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa) were ...

Controlling microbial growth in artificial diets is a key component in the rearing of laboratory insects. In this study an antimicrobial agent, Diet Antimicrobial Agent (DAA), was tested for its ability to suppress microbial growth on a range of different diets, and for its effect on larval and pupal performance of individuals from two different strains of Heliothis virescens Fabricus (Lepidopt...

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) is commonly believed to function as an effective antiherbivore defense in plants. PPO is induced in plants following herbivory, and insect performance is often negatively correlated with PPO levels. However, induced defenses create numerous changes in plants, and very little work has been done to test the direct effects of PPO on insect herbivores separately from other ...

Caterpillars have an impressive array of defenses to avoid being eaten. For example, they may blend in extremely well with their background (Cott 1940; Edmunds 1974, 1990), they may mimic potential predators of their own predators (Nentwig 1985; Pough 1988), they may construct shelters (Fitzgerald 1980; Fitzgerald and Willer 1983; Damman 1987), and they may be unpalatable due to urticating hair...

A wide variety of insect herbivores construct and inhabit leaf shelters (ties, rolls, folds, and webs). Shelter construction can lead to a high rate of secondary occupation by other arthropods, including other species of constructors. The consequences for the inhabitants of secondarily occupying these shelters are currently unknown. In this study, we conducted field experiments to examine the f...

By creating or modifying habitats used by other organisms, physical ecosystem engineers can influence local patterns of biological diversity. However, there have been very few empirical studies quantifying engineering effects in different biological systems. In this study, we examined the effect of shelter-building caterpillars on the species richness and guild structure of leaf-chewing herbivo...