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Differential host-finding abilities by a weed biocontrol insect create within-patch spatial refuges for nontarget
Haley A Catton1, Robert G Lalonde, Rosemarie A De Clerck-Floate
1Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 1177 Research Rd Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada.
Environmental Entomology
|September 27, 2014
Summary
Biocontrol insects like Mogulones crucifer can cause temporary damage to nontarget plants. However, their feeding behavior creates safe zones for native plants near release points, ensuring biocontrol safety.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Entomology
- Conservation Biology
Background:
- Modern biocontrol insects may exhibit transient nontarget herbivory, especially at high densities.
- Understanding herbivory spatial patterns is crucial for predicting biocontrol efficacy and safety.
- Plant refuges from herbivory can mitigate population-level impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how differential host-finding and arrestment behaviors of an oligophagous biocontrol insect create spatial refuges from nontarget herbivory.
- To assess the spatial distribution of herbivory around insect release points in mixed plant patches.
Main Methods:
- Released large numbers of Mogulones crucifer into rangeland patches with varying densities of target weed (Cynoglossum officinale) and nontarget plant (Hackelia micrantha).
- Monitored spatial patterns of herbivory around release points.
- Conducted a mark-release-recapture (MRR) experiment to compare M. crucifer's host-finding and arrestment behaviors on target and nontarget plants.
Main Results:
- 95% of nontarget herbivory on H. micrantha occurred within 4.25 m of release points, irrespective of target plant density.
- Target herbivory by M. crucifer occurred up to 14 m from release points.
- MRR experiments showed M. crucifer preferentially stayed on the target weed C. officinale, not the nontarget H. micrantha.
Conclusions:
- Differential host-finding and arrestment behaviors of M. crucifer create spatial refuges from nontarget herbivory for H. micrantha.
- These refuges are located near insect release points, even in high-density insect populations.
- The findings support the safe use of M. crucifer as a biocontrol agent by minimizing risks to nontarget plants.
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