Growth dynamics of a specialized milkweed seed feeder (oncopeltus fasciatus) on seeds of familiar and unfamiliar milkweeds (asclepias spp.)
1981
CHAPLIN, STEPHEN J. | Chaplin, Susan B.
The effect of different host plant diets on the growth dynamics of the large milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, was investigated by rearing this specialized seed feeder on the seeds of seven milkweed species occurring in central Missouri. Growth rate, growth efficiency, and ♂:♀ biomass ratio proved to be the most sensitive measures of growth in detecting significant differences between diets. Ascleptas syriaca L., A. verticillata L. and A. hirtella (Pennell) Woods, supported the most rapid and efficient growth, while A. incarnata L., A. purpurescens L., A. viridiflora Raf., and A. quadrifolia Jacq. were less suitable host species. In general, O. fasciatus grew best on the host species it utilizes most commonly in the field, thus supporting the proposed host familiarity hypothesis. The most commonly exploited plant species shared three characteristics of seed production and quality which accounted for 87%-96% of the variability in growth dynamics of O. fasciatus. The most important of these was the mean number of pods produced per plant. Seed nitrogen content was the next best parameter in further accounting for variability in growth rate and ♂:♀ biomass ratio but seed cardenolide content was the second parameter for growth efficiency.
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