Performance of Symydobius americanus (Homoptera: Aphididae) on paper birch grazed by caterpillars

Abstract.

• 1 The potential for host plant-mediated interactions between leaf-chewers and the aphid Symydobius americanus on paper birch (Betula papyrifera) was investigated experimentally.
• 2 Datana ministra and Malacosoma disstria caterpillars were caged on randomly chosen, undamaged branches until they had eaten 30–50% of the leaf area. Control branches received cages but no larvae.
• 3 Alates of S.americanus were than caged on the experimental and control branches to assess the effect of chewing damage on colony performance.
• 4 Chewing damage had no detectable effect on initiation of alate reproduction, development time, mortality of nymphs or colony growth rate.