Effects of plant diversity and time of colonization on an herbivore-plant interaction

Experimental field plantings showed that plant diversity strongly affected the population dynamics of a specialist herbivore, the striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittata (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Population densities over time were characterized by two peaks in numbers (from colonization and reproduction, respectively) and were consistently higher in cucumber monocultures (Cucumis sativus L.) than in polycultures of cucumbers, corn (Zea mays L.), and broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.). Greater abundances in monocultures appear to result from two factors: (1) per individual reproductive rates were greater in monocultures than in polycultures, and (2) mark-recapture studies confirmed that beetles stay in monocultures for a longer period of time than in polycultures. Differences in predation did not appear to contribute to the overall differences in herbivore abundances.The primary impact of A. vittata on its host plant, C. sativus, is the dissemination of bacterial wilt disease, Erwinia tracheiphila (E.F.Sm.). Greater numbers of beetles led to greater plant mortality in monocultures. It is suggested that factors other than numbers of beetles (e.g., shading, allelopathy, microclimate) are more important in influencing plant reproduction, since cucumber plants in monocultures had greater yields than did plants grown in polycultures. However, time of beetle colonization strongly affected plant parameters, indicating that the length of time during which herbivores are interacting with plants is of critical importance to plant survivorship, and thus reproduction.