Consistent Between-Individual Differences in Foraging Performance in a Floriphilic Katydid in Response to Different...

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Behavioral Ecology
• Entomology

Background:

• Insect-plant interactions are central to ecology, yet herbivore foraging behavior, especially florivory, remains understudied.
• The neural constraint hypothesis offers a framework for understanding these interactions, but empirical data are lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how foraging performance of the floriphilic katydid, Phaneroptera brevis, is affected by choices in capitula number and floret types of Bidens pilosa.
• To determine if katydid foraging performance improves with experience and if individual differences are consistent.

Main Methods:

• Caged insectary experiments were conducted using Phaneroptera brevis and Bidens pilosa.
• Foraging performance was assessed based on variations in plant resource availability (capitula number, floret types).

Main Results:

• Increased choices in floret types and capitula number generally reduced katydid foraging performance.
• No interactive effect was observed between floret types and capitula number on foraging.
• Individual katydid foraging performance differences were consistent, but efficiency and decisiveness improved over time.

Conclusions:

• Learning and experience enhance katydid foraging efficiency, contributing to the maintenance of varied performance levels within populations.
• Findings provide insights into the mechanisms maintaining a spectrum of foraging efficiency in herbivore populations.