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Interactive effects of rutin and constant versus alternating temperatures on performance of Manduca sexta caterpillars
Author(s) -
Stamp N. E.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1111/j.1570-7458.1994.tb01810.x
Subject(s) - manduca sexta , biology , rutin , botany , instar , allelopathy , relative growth rate , larva , horticulture , zoology , growth rate , biochemistry , germination , antioxidant , geometry , mathematics
The effects of different concentrations of rutin and constant temperature (20 °C) versus alternating temperatures (23:15 °C) on growth, molting and food utilization efficiencies of third instar tobacco hornworms ( Manduca sexta) were determined. Relative consumption rate (RCR) and relative growth rate (RGR) were significantly higher for larvae at the alternating thermal regime compared to those at the constant (representing the average) temperature. With increasing concentrations of rutin, the negative effect of rutin on RCR and RGR increased for the larvae in the alternating thermal regime; however, at the constant temperature, rutin had little effect. The alternating thermal regime promoted synchrony in the timing of spiracle apolysis (the earliest morphological marker of molt). Rutin disrupted that synchrony. I discuss how patterns of host plant resistance may be altered with a decrease in amplitude of diurnal temperatures (as has been documented recently for temperate regions) through the uncoupling of herbivore performance and allelochemical concentration. I conclude that simultaneous consideration of fluctuating temperatures and allelochemicals is advisable when assessing the effects of temperature and allelochemicals on performance of insect herbivores because interactive effects between temperature and dietary components occur and perhaps are common.