Host plant derived feeding deterrence towards ants in the turnip sawfly Athalia rosae

Larvae of the sawfly Athalia rosae ruficornis Jakovlev (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) feed on several glucosinolate-containing plants and have been shown to sequester the main glucosinolates of different hosts, namely sinalbin (p-hydroxybenzylglucosinolate) from Sinapis alba L., sinigrin (allylglucosinolate) from Brassica nigra (L.) Koch, and glucobarbarin ((S)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylglucosinolate) from Barbarea stricta Andrz. (Brassicaceae). These plant metabolites are stored in the haemolymph, which is readily released when larvae are attacked by predators. In a dual-choice bioassay the bio-activity of sawfly haemolymph collected from larvae reared on different host plants (S. alba, B. nigra, and B. stricta) was tested against the ant Myrmica rubra L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The haemolymph had a stronger deterrence effect when the corresponding sawfly larvae were reared on S. alba than when reared on B. nigra and B. stricta. Haemolymph of caterpillars of Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) that had fed on S. alba was not deterrent to the ants. No sinalbin could be detected in their haemolymph. The glucosinolates sinalbin and sinigrin, offered in a concentration comparable to that in the sawfly haemolymph, were deterrent to the ants, but not as strongly as the corresponding haemolymph samples. This suggests, that glucosinolates are not the only compounds involved in the chemical defence of A. rosae. However, the presence of sequestered glucosinolates is already a sufficient defence towards predators such as ants, and their effectiveness is modulated by the host plant chemistry.     

Host plant recognition in monophagous weevils: Specialization ofCeutorhynchus inaffectatus to glucosinolates from its host plantHesperis matronalis

Several aphid honeydews were incorporated into sucrose solutions and presented to hop aphids, Phorodon humuli (Schrank), as artificial diets in free-choice bioassays. Small additions of honeydew collected from two species of aphid feeding on hop, Humulus lupulus L., arrested the searching behavior of the hop aphid and appeared to stimulate prolonged periods of ingestion. This effect was more dependent on the host plant honeydew source than the species of aphid that produced the honeydew. Aphid honeydews collected from plants other than hop (non-hosts to P. humuli) contained hop aphid phagostimulants that were less effective. Our results indicate that analysis of aphid honeydew could help describe chemical cues involved in the recognition of appropriate host plants by aphid species.     

Trade-offs in responses to host plants within a population of a generalist herbivore,Christoneura rosaceana

Evolutionary constraints on the ability of herbivores to efficiently use a set of phytochemically similar hosts, while maintaining a high performance on phytochemically different hosts, are central in explaining the predominance of host specialization in phytophagous insects. Such feeding trade-offs could be manifested within insect populations as negative genetic correlations in fitness on different host species. We tested the hypothesis that feeding trade-offs were present within a population of the obliquebanded leafroller,Choristoneura rosaceana (Harris). Components of fitness were measured in families originating from an apple orchard that were fed on four host-plant species in the laboratory. Under the conditions of this experiment, all across-host genetic correlations were strongly positive, suggesting that this population comprised true generalists. With the exception of diapausing propensity, the heritability of the fitness components tended to be lower in caterpillars fed on apple leaves than in insects fed other hosts. This suggests a constraint on the selective response of the fitness components in the orchard environment.     

Preference and performance of the sawfly Diprion pini on host and non-host plants of the genus Pinus

The sawfly, Diprion pini L., is a pest of Pinus in Europe and is mainly found on P. sylvestris L. and P. nigra laricio Poiret. The relative importance of female oviposition capacity and behaviour, egg development, and larval survival on a new host plant was measured on 11 pine species. Five were natural host plants and six non-host plants, five of which are not indigenous to Europe. Oviposition choice tests showed that females discriminated between the pine species. Egg and larval development also differed between pine species. However, the female choice was not linked with hatching rate and larval development. Results of biological tests clearly indicated that there were different response patterns of D. pini life stages in relation to pine species, and these patterns were the same with insects of four different origins. We discuss the importance of each potential barrier to colonisation of a new host.     

Host specificity of DNA produced byEscherichia coli

Summary Phage , whose DNA was physically labelled with density markers²H and¹⁵N and biologically labelled with K-host specificity, was submitted to one growth cycle on a restriction deficient (r ^–) strain ofE. coli B exerting normally its modification function (m _B ⁺ ). All progeny phages, including those with nonreplicated, fully conserved parental DNA molecules, acquired the B-specificity in this passage, independently of DNA replication and of the presence of the K-specificity on the DNA. Phages with parental DNA had preserved the parental K-specificity. However, about half of the phages carrying a halfheavy DNA molecule (corresponding presumably to a semiconserved double helix) did only plate on B and onr ^– mutants, but not on K12. Experimental evidence is presented, that DNA degradation is the cause of this lack of growth in K12, while in infections initiated by the other half of the hybrids both strands (that with K and B specificity and that with only B specificity) are preserved and are recovered in the progeny with equal chance.     

Host recognition in the pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae: a morpho-functional approach

The diapriid wasp Trichopria drosophilae Perkins (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae) attacks and develops in puparia of the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Host recognition of T. drosophilae was studied using both a morphological and behavioural approach. Scanning and electron microscopical observations of female parasitoid antennae showed the presence of two types of sensilla, which we named MGS1 and MGS2. The former are present on the ventral side of both the apical (A11) and sub-apical (A12) antennomeres, while the latter occur only on A12. Ultrastructural features suggest a gustatory function for these sensilla. Arena bioassays using intact or antennaectomised females and intact host puparia showed that MGS2 are necessary for achieving host acceptance. Further bioassays, where the host's anterior spiracles were covered with wax, led to a very low level of host acceptance. We suggest that the secretion produced by glands associated with the anterior spiracles act as a contact kairomone, which has to be perceived by MGS2 in order to elicit host recognition. The removal of both the female apical antennomeres (A12) led to the failure of the parasitoid to recognize its host.     

Host specificity of a Brazilian mistletoe, Struthanthus aff. polyanthus (Loranthaceae), in cerrado tropical savanna

The aim of this study was to determine if the mistletoe Struthanthus aff. polyanthus shows host specificity, and if host abundance and twig architecture influence this specificity in Cerrado (senso strictu). An area of 1.3 ha of natural savanna was sampled for the occurrence of the mistletoe. The twigs of the hosts were classified as vertical or horizontal, and the bark as smooth or rough. We sampled a total of 666 trees in the study site and 118 individuals (17.7%) hosted S. aff. polyanthus. The abundance of mistletoe was significantly affected by the bark type, but not by the twigs inclination. In the cerrado, S. aff. polyanthus seems to be a generalist, with a tendency to be more common on some hosts (Kielmeyera coriacea, Pouteria ramiflora and Styrax ferrugineus), prefering that with rough bark type.     

短尾噬菌体识别宿主机制的研究进展

噬菌体可以作为抗生素的替代物,用于致病菌的防控和治疗。有尾噬菌体是最常见的噬菌体类型,可以根据尾部形态的不同分为短尾噬菌体、肌尾噬菌体和长尾噬菌体3类。不同噬菌体间不仅具有明显的形态差异,其对宿主细菌的识别机制也不相同。短尾噬菌体由于其较小的基因组长度和相对简单的结构组成,成为研究宿主与噬菌体的共进化关系、以及通过基因工程改造噬菌体的良好模型。本文综述了短尾噬菌体的分类特征及不同短尾噬菌体识别宿主受体的分子机制。通过明确短尾噬菌体的识别宿主机制,有助于对相应噬菌体进行工程化改造,解决噬菌体应用中存在的关键问题,使噬菌体更广泛地应用于生物、医学与食品工业等领域中。     

Biology, host specificity tests, and risk assessment of the sawfly Heteroperreyia hubrichi, a potential biological control agent of Schinus terebinthifolius in Hawaii

Heteroperreyia hubrichiMalaise (Hymenoptera: Pergidae), a foliagefeeding sawfly of Schinusterebinthifolius Raddi (Sapindales:Anacardiaceae), was studied to assess itssuitability as a classical biological controlagent of this invasive weed in Hawaii. No-choice host-specificity tests were conductedin Hawaiian quarantine on 20 plant species in10 families. Besides the target weed, adultfemales oviposited on four test species. Females accepted the Hawaiian native Rhussandwicensis A. Gray (Sapindales:Anacardiaceae) as an oviposition host equallyas well as the target species. The other threespecies received significantly fewer eggs. Neonate larvae transferred onto test plantssuccessfully developed to pupae on S.terebinthifolius (70% survival) and R.sandwicensis (1% survival). All other 18test plant species failed to support larvaldevelopment. A risk analysis was conducted toquantify the acceptability of non-targetspecies as host plants for H. hubrichi onthe basis of the insect's performance atvarious stages in its life cycle. Risk ofdamage to all plant species tested wasinsignificant except for R. sandwicensis. Risk to this native plant relative to S.terebinthifolius was estimated at 1%. Currently this level of risk is too high torequest introduction of this insect into theHawaiian environment. Detailed impact studiesin the native range of S. terebinthifoliusare needed to identify thepotential benefit that this insect offers. Also, field studies in South America withpotted R. sandwicensis would give a morereliable analysis of the risk this nativeHawaiian plant would face from naturalpopulations of H. hubrichi.     

Interactions between a specialist herbivore,Crocidosema plebejana, and its host plantsMalva parviflora and cotton,Gossypium hirsutum: Larval performance

Previous studies have shown populations of tipworm,Crocidosema plebejana Zeller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), onMalva parviflora L. persist throughout the development of the plant while those on cotton are greatly reduced after plant flowering. We investigated larval performance of tipworm on plants of both species at various stages of development. Tipworm reared onM. parviflora developed faster, survived better and tended to be heavier than those reared on cotton. OnM. parviflora all parts of the plant were eaten while on cotton large squares, flowers and small to medium bolls were never eaten. Cotton quality for tipworm development decreased markedly at flowering and remained low thereafter, as shown by low survival of neonate larvae and extended development time of late instar larvae. The poor performance of tipworm on flowering cotton is strongly correlated with major changes in plant chemistry at that stage of plant development.     

Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro) host specificity genes are linked to a nodD-like gene in the broad host range Rhizobium strain NGR234

Summary A 6.7 kb HindIII fragment from the Sym-plasmid of strain NGR234 was found to code a nodD-like gene flanked by two loci which were required for siratro host range. Transfer of the 6.7 kb fragment from NGR234 to R. trifolii strain ANU843 conferred extended host range ability to this strain on siratro plants but not to other plants normally nodulated by strain NGR234. Tn5 mutagenesis of the 6.7 kb fragment showed that insertions located into loci flanking the nodD-like gene abolished the extended host range phenotype. A hybridization probe spanning one of the host specificity loci was shown to hybridize to three specific bands in the NGR234 genome. Complementation and DNA hybridization data showed that the nodD-like gene of strain NGR234 was functionally similar to that in R. trifolii. The introduction to R. trifolii of the 6.7 kb HindIII fragment containing Tn5 insertions located in the nodD-like gene did not abolish the ability to extend the host range of R. trifolii to siratro plants. However, transfer of the 6.7 kb HindIII to R. trifolii derivatives containing Tn5 insertions into either nodA, B or C or other R. trifolii nod genes failed to confer siratro nodulation to these recipients. Reconstruction experiments showed that the 6.7 kb fragment from strain NGR234 and the 14 kb nodulation region of R. trifolii could induce the nodulation of siratro plants when introduced together into Sym-plasmid-cured Rhizobium strains.     

Host plant suitability and the mechanism of host selection in larvae of Papilio machaon

Host plant suitability and host plant preferences were investigated in larvae of Papilio machaon, using four umbelliferous plants, two of which are the most common host plants in Sweden, i.e. Angelica archangelica ssp. littoralis and Peucedanum palustre, and two of which are seldom fed upon in nature, namely Pastinaca sativa and Aegopodium podagraria. Judging from mortality, larval development rate and mean pupal weights, a tentative hierarchy of host plant suitability was as follows: 1) Peucedanum, 2) Angelica, 3) Pastinaca, 4) Aegopodium.Concerning preferences, newly hatched larvae showed no preferential discrimination between these four plant species, whereas 3rd-stage larvae apparently preferred the plant species upon which they had been reared. On the basis of this ontogenetic preference transformation, the evolutionary significance of plant preferences in host plant selection is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Wirtspflanzeneignung und Wirtspflanzenbevorzugung (Präferenz) wurden an Larven von Papilio machaon unter Verwendung von vier Umbelliferen-Arten untersucht, von denen zwei, Angelica archangelica ssp. littoralis und Peucedanum palustre, die häufigsten Wirtspflanzen in Schweden sind, und zwei andere, nämlich Pastinaca sativa und Aegopodium podagraria, in der Natur selten befressen werden. Unter Berücksichtigung der Mortalität, der larvalen Entwicklungsrate und des mittleren Puppengewichts kann versuchsweise folgende Reihe der Wirtspflanzeneignung aufgestellt werden: 1. Peucedanum, 2. Angelica, 3. Pastinaca, 4. Aegopodium.Hinsichtlich der Präferenz machen frischgeschlüpfte Larven keinerlei Unterschiede zwischen diesen vier Pflanzenarten, während Larven des 3. Stadiums offensichtlich die Pflanzenart bevorzugen, auf welcher sie aufgezogen worden waren. Auf der Basis dieser ontogenetischen Präferenzverschiebung wird die Bedeutung der Wirtspräferenz bei der Wirtspflanzenwahl für die Evolution diskutiert.

     

Host stress influences oviposition preference and performance of a pine sawfly

Abstract.

• 1 The effect of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Doug]. ex Laws) water stress, measured by xylem water potential, on oviposition preference and egg development of Neodiprion fulviceps was determined by two laboratory experiments in 1987 and 1988.
• 2 In the first experiment, adult females were allowed to choose between foliage from water-stressed, watered, and untreated control trees.
• 3 Significant differences were found between treatments in xylem water potential in 1987 but not in 1988.
• 4 Females chose water-stressed trees and a positive correlation was found between female preference and xylem water potential in 1987 but not in 1988.
• 5 In the second experiment, females were placed in globe cages with a single branch from each treatment and allowed to oviposit.
• 6 Significant differences were found among treatments in egg survival in 1987 but not in 1988.
• 7 These results indicate that sawflies can distinguish between stressed and non-stressed trees and that this behaviour is adaptive in that egg survival was greatest on the preferred treatment.

     

Host plant defense signaling in response to a coevolved herbivore combats introduced herbivore attack

Defense‐free space resulting from coevolutionarily naïve host plants recently has been implicated as a factor facilitating invasion success of some insect species. Host plants, however, may not be entirely defenseless against novel herbivore threats. Volatile chemical‐mediated defense signaling, which allows plants to mount specific, rapid, and intense responses, may play a role in systems experiencing novel threats. Here we investigate defense responses of host plants to a native and exotic herbivore and show that (1) host plants defend more effectively against the coevolved herbivore, (2) plants can be induced to defend against a newly‐associated herbivore when in proximity to plants actively defending against the coevolved species, and (3) these defenses affect larval performance. These findings highlight the importance of coevolved herbivore‐specific defenses and suggest that naïveté or defense limitations can be overcome via defense signaling. Determining how these findings apply across various host–herbivore systems is critical to understand mechanisms of successful herbivore invasion.     

Host functional and phylogenetic composition rather than host diversity structure plant–herbivore networks

Declining plant diversity alters ecological networks, such as plant–herbivore interactions. However, our knowledge of the potential mechanisms underlying effects of plant species loss on plant–herbivore network structure is still limited. We used DNA barcoding to identify herbivore–host plant associations along declining levels of tree diversity in a large‐scale, subtropical biodiversity experiment. We tested for effects of tree species richness, host functional and phylogenetic diversity, and host functional (leaf trait) and phylogenetic composition on species, phylogenetic and network composition of herbivore communities. We found that phylogenetic host composition and related palatability/defence traits but not tree species richness significantly affected herbivore communities and interaction network complexity at both the species and community levels. Our study indicates that evolutionary dependencies and functional traits of host plants determine the composition of higher trophic levels and corresponding interaction networks in species‐rich ecosystems. Our findings highlight that characteristics of the species lost have effects on ecosystem structure and functioning across trophic levels that cannot be predicted from mere reductions in species richness.