Open AccessHOST PREFERENCE IN THE TASMANIAN EUCALYPT DEFOLIATING PAROPSINI (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO CHRYSOPHTHARTA BIMACULATA (OLIVIER) AND C. AGRICOLA (CHAPUIS).
Author(s) -
Little D. W.,
Madden J. L.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
australian journal of entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1440-6055
pISSN - 1326-6756
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1975.tb02055.x
Subject(s) - biology , host (biology) , larva , eucalyptus , botany , preference , ecology , economics , microeconomics
Two species of paropsine chrysomelid defoliators of eucalypts, Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Olivier). and C. agricola (Chapuis), showed distinct host preferences to a Monocalyptus species, Eucalyptus delegatensis R. T. Bak., and a Symphyomyrtus species, E. dalrympleana Maiden, respectively in mixed regeneration stand. Females of each species showed strong ovipositional host preference in a cage trial. Larvae of both species achieved a faster rate of consumption and matured more rapidly on foliage of E. delegatensis than on E. dalrympleana , but C. bimaculata was faster than C. agricola . On E. dalrympleana, C. agricola was more rapid than C. bimaculata . Findings are discussed in relation to ecological strategies employed by these species.