Coadaptive Preferential Feeding of the Pine Moth, Dendrolimus spectabilis BUTLER (Lepidoptera, Lasiocampidae), on the Old Needles of Japanese Black Pine, Pinus thunbergii PARL

概要

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Seasonal changes were examined in the feeding preference of Dendrolimus spectabilis BUTLER between two age classes of pine needles (Pinus thunbergii PARL.), and the result was discussed in relation to the seasonal change in the productive value of needles. The productive value of a needle of age t is defined as the extent to which a needle of age t will contribute to the future growth of the pine tree. The 1st instar larvae, the light eaters, preferred to eat current-year needles with a large productive value. The last instar larvae, the heavy eaters, preferred one-year-old needles with a small productive value. It is concluded that the larval feeding preference reduces the deleterious influence of feeding on the growth of the pine tree. The preferential feeding of the last instar larvae is analogous to that of the 'prudent' predator on prey with the largest ratio of (value to predator)/(reproductive value of prey). Evolution of the coadaptive preferential feeding is presumably related to the range of host plants of the herbivore.
日本昆虫学会の論文
1977-09-25