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Two forms of egg defence in a chrysomelid beetle: egg clumping and excrement cover
Author(s) -
DAMMAN HANS,
CAPPUCCINO NAOMI
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2311.1991.tb00205.x
Subject(s) - biology , eulophidae , predation , hymenoptera , zoology , bird egg , ecology , host (biology) , botany , parasitoid
.1 Field experiments demonstrated that the faecal covering that female Microrhopala vittata (Fabr.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) place over their egg masses significantly reduces egg mortality. 2 The bottom egg in the egg mass, which lies against the leaf of the host plant, suffers significantly higher mortality than the other eggs in the egg mass. 3 The parasite Chrysonotomyia sp. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) generally parasitizes only the bottom egg in the egg mass, while predators rarely penetrate the faecal covering. 4 No significant relationship was found between mortality and the number of egg masses per leaf. 5 By placing eggs in masses, females may ensure that at least the upper eggs in any egg mass are effectively protected against virtually all natural enemies likely to pose a threat.