Variation between strains of the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum in relative performance on five flours

When populations are exposed to different environments, evolutionary processes can lead either to genetically differentiated strains or to the appearance of increased generalism at the individual level. For evolution to occur, genetic variability in performance in different environments is required. Here, intra-specific genetic variation across environments was estimated in the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) by comparing the responses of two strains of T. castaneum to different flour types. Replicated groups from each strain were allowed to develop on either the standard whole wheat medium or on one of four novel flours (wheat, rice, corn and oat). In several of the novel flours, clear differences in mean development time or population size of one or both strains were seen relative to performance in the standard medium. Moreover, the strains differed significantly in their phenotypic responses to the flours. One strain did particularly poorly on oat flour. Reduced oviposition, reduced larval survivorship and increased larval cannibalism were examined as possible causes of the low productivity on oat flour. These three factors accounted for about 70% of the reduction in population size when this strain oviposited and developed in oat flour. The difference between these two outbred strains in response to these five flours suggests that genetic variation in resource use is present within T. castaneum and may also be present within strains and natural populations in grain storage facilities. Such variation would permit an evolutionary response to selection in multiple environments (flours). This process has agricultural implications when several types of grain are stored in a single location because it could eventually lead to the evolution of highly generalized populations of T. castaneum, an important pest of stored products.