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Factors affecting head capsule development in field populations of Altica sylvia (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2012

Josiane Goguen  and
Gaétan Moreau
Josiane Goguen
Affiliation:
Département de Biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada
Gaétan Moreau*
Affiliation:
Département de Biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: gaetan.moreau@umoncton.ca).
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Abstract

Traits such as larval growth rate and head capsule width are often measured in economically important insects to determine their developmental stage. However, these traits have the potential to vary between genotypes or in response to several ecological factors. To determine whether geographic or ecological factors cause variability in the head capsule width of Altica sylvia Malloch (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), and to verify whether measures of head capsule width are adequate to identify larval instars in this species, A. sylvia larvae were recovered from 35 fields of Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton (lowbush blueberry; Ericaceae) of eastern New Brunswick, Canada. The distribution of head capsule widths varied in response to accumulated degree-days, A. sylvia larval density, and latitude. An overlap between measures of head capsule width of first-instar and second-instar larvae in fields supporting a high density of A. sylvia larvae suggested that intraspecific competition caused a reduction in larval growth rate that affected head capsule development and may have induced developmental polymorphism. Based on these results, we stress that the sampling protocol of studies conducted to determine head capsule width intervals in a species should include diverse ecological settings as well as several locations within the range of the species.

Résumé

Différents traits tels que le taux de croissance et la taille de la capsule céphalique des larves sont souvent mesurés chez les insectes d'importance économique afin de déterminer leur stade de développement. Ces traits peuvent cependant varier entre les génotypes ou en réponse à plusieurs facteurs écologiques. Afin de déterminer si les facteurs géographiques ou écologiques causent de la variabilité dans la taille des capsules céphaliques d’Altica sylvia Malloch (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) et afin de vérifier si les mesures de taille des capsules céphaliques sont adéquates pour identifier le stade larvaire chez cette espèce, des larves d’A. sylvia furent échantillonnées dans trente-cinq champs de Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton (airelle à feuilles étroites ; Ericaceae) de l'Est du Nouveau-Brunswick, Canada. La distribution de la taille des capsules céphaliques a varié en réponse à l'accumulation des degrés-jours, la densité larvaire d’A. sylvia et la latitude. Un chevauchement entre les mesures de taille des capsules céphaliques des larves de premier et second stades dans les champs qui renferment de hautes densités de larves d’A. sylvia suggère que la compétition intraspécifique a entraîné une réduction du taux de croissance des larves qui affecta le développement des capsules céphaliques et a peut-être induit du polymorphisme de développement. D'après ces résultats, nous soulignons que le protocole d’échantillonnage des études visant à déterminer les intervalles de taille des capsules céphaliques chez une espèce devrait inclure diverses conditions écologiques ainsi que plusieurs localités parmi l'aire de répartition de l'espèce.

Type
Behaviour & Ecology
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 145 , Issue 1 , February 2013 , pp. 40 - 47
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2013

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