Food acceptance by a monophagous and an oligophagous insect in relation to seasonal changes in host plant suitability

Food acceptance by larvae of two lepidopteran species feeding on Rosaceae, viz. Yponomeuta evonymellus (monophagous) and Y. padellus (oligophagous), was compared. The influence of seasonal changes in plants as food for both insects was examined, in particular, the effects of nitrogen and sorbitol in leaves. In the laboratory, Y. evonymellus accepts Crataegus monogyna, a host plant of Y. padellus, and Y. padellus accepts Prunus padus, the host plant of Y. evonymellus. P. padus is the most suitable food plant for Y. evonymellus. No difference in food-quality for Y. padellus was found between C. monogyna and P. padus. The performance of both species on P. padus is less influenced by seasonal changes than on Crataegus. The suitability of Crataegus decreases during the season. This is probably caused by the decrease of its nitrogen content, and not by the decrease of sorbitol in the plant. The monophagous, Y. evonymellus, is more sensitive to seasonal changes in its food when fed with a non host plant than the oligophagous Y. padellus. In oviposition experiments both species have a preference for their normal host-plants.