Field test of resource regulation by the bud‐galling sawfly, Euura mucronata, on Salix cinerea

The attack by the bud‐galling sawfly, Euura mucronata , on its willow host was simulated by removing every other living bud from previous year's shoots in a natural stand of Salix cinerea . The impact of simulated attack on the growth of the willow and the subsequent attack by E. mucronata was estimated after one growing season. Experimental bud‐killing resulted in a growth reaction in S. cinerea characterized by significant increase in the length of new shoots produced by the remaining buds Also the number of buds and E. mucronata galls per shoot were significantly higher on bud‐removal branches as compared with control branches. The overall survival of E. mucronata larvae was better on long shoots than on short shoots. The result shows that sawfly attack increases the amount of high quality resources for the subsequent generation of the same sawfly as predicted by “resource regulation hypothesis”. We conclude that these highly specialized insect herbivores have adapted to utilize and to maintain the willow's juvenile traits. Rapid regrowth of willows after damage may have originally arisen as an adaptation in response to other, less specific pressures such as mammal browsing or snow and ice damage.