Leaf wilting alters a plant species ranking by the grasshopper Melanoplus differentialis |
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| Authors: | A C LEWIS |
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| Institution: | Department of Zoology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | Abstract. 1. Field observations of the feeding behaviour of the polyphagous grasshopper Melanoplus differentialis suggest that plant quality can override plant species as a determinant of choice. When offered binary choices in laboratory tests between leaves of two host plant species, Helianthus annuus and Ambrosia trifida , in all combinations of wilted and turgid, grasshoppers prefer A. trifida in all test conditions, except when it is turgid and H.annuus is wilted. In this case, the preference switches to H.annuus
2. Preliminary evidence suggests that chemical factors are responsible for the alteration in preference. |
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| Keywords: | Melanoplus differentialis Helianthus annuus Ambrosia trifida grass- hopper feeding preference plant drought stress host choice |
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