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Temperature and food quality effects on growth, consumption and post-ingestive utilization ef.ciencies of the forest tent caterpillar Malacosoma disstria (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

K.R. Levesque ,
M. Fortin  and
Y. Mauffette
K.R. Levesque*
Affiliation:
Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Forestière interuniversitaire (GREFI), Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. A. Montréal, QC, Canada, H3C 3P8
M. Fortin
Affiliation:
Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Forestière interuniversitaire (GREFI), Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. A. Montréal, QC, Canada, H3C 3P8
Y. Mauffette
Affiliation:
Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Forestière interuniversitaire (GREFI), Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888, Succ. A. Montréal, QC, Canada, H3C 3P8
*
*Groupe Interuniversitaire de Recherches Océanographiques du Québec (GIROQ), Université Leval, Pavillon Vachon, QC, CanadaG1K 7P4 Fax: (418) 656 2339 E-mail: keith.levesque@giroq.ulaval.ca
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Abstract

Temperature and food quality can both influence growth rates, consumption rates, utilization efficiencies and developmental time of herbivorous insects. Gravimetric analyses were conducted during two consecutive years to assess the effects of temperature and food quality on fourth instar larvae of the forest tent caterpillar Malacosoma disstria Hübner. Larvae were reared in the laboratory at three different temperatures (18, 24 and 30°C) and on two types of diet; leaves of sugar maple trees Acer saccharum Marsh. located at the forest edge (sun-exposed leaves) or within the forest interior (shade-exposed leaves). In general, larvae reared at 18°C had lower growth rates and lower consumption rates than larvae reared at the warmer temperatures (24 and 30°C). Moreover, the duration of the instar decreased significantly with increasing temperatures. Type of diet also affected the growth rates and amount of food ingested by larvae but did not affect the duration of the instar. Larvae fed sun-exposed leaves consumed more food and gained higher biomasses. Values of approximate digestibility and efficiency of conversion of ingested food were also higher when larvae were fed sun-exposed leaves. Higher growth rates with increasing temperatures were primarily the result of the shorter stadium duration. The higher growth rates of larvae fed sun-exposed leaves were possibly the result of stimulatory feeding and consequently greater food intake and also a more efficient use of food ingested. This study suggests that the performance of M. disstria caterpillars could be enhanced by warmer temperatures and higher leaf quality.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 92 , Issue 2 , April 2002 , pp. 127 - 136
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

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