Geographic variation in phenotypic traits in Phratora spp. and the effects of conditioning on feeding preference

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Peacock, L., Carter, P., Powers, S. J. and Karp, A. 2003. Geographic variation in phenotypic traits in Phratora spp. and the effects of conditioning on feeding preference. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 109 (1), pp. 31-37. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1570-7458.2003.00090.x

AuthorsPeacock, L., Carter, P., Powers, S. J. and Karp, A.
Abstract

The leaf beetle genus Phratora ( L.) ( Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) includes important pests of cultivated willows and poplars. The feeding preference of P. vulgatissima and P. vitellinae collected from different geographical locations was studied under laboratory conditions. There were geographic differences in the amount consumed of different willow host genotypes by each beetle species. Correlation analysis showed that, regardless of these individual differences between willow genotypes and locations, the ranking of preferred host genotypes was significantly related between locations. There were differences in the preference of host genotypes by P. vulgatissima adults and larvae after being confined to a specific willow genotype for a month, suggesting the possibility of a conditioning effect on food preference. This study also permitted the assessment of possible geographic differentiation in morphological traits. Both beetle species generally showed an increase in body size, width, and percentage fat of dry body weight with a more northerly location. These results are discussed in relation to using varietal mixtures as a pest management strategy.

KeywordsEntomology
Year of Publication2003
JournalEntomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Journal citation109 (1), pp. 31-37
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1570-7458.2003.00090.x
Open accessPublished as non-open access
Funder project or code431
508
Project: 4363
ISSN00138703
0013-8703
PublisherWiley

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