A general model for host plant selection in phytophagous insects.

Journal article

We develop a general theoretical framework for exploring the host plant selection behaviour of herbivorous insects. This model can be used to address a number of questions, including the evolution of specialists, generalists, preference hierarchies, and learning. We use our model to: (i) demonstrate the consequences of the extent to which the reproductive success of a foraging female is limited by the rate at which they find host plants (host limitation) or the number of eggs they carry (egg limitation); (ii) emphasize the different consequences of variation in behaviour before and after landing on (locating) a host (termed pre- and post-alighting, respectively); (iii) show that, in contrast to previous predictions, learning can be favoured in post-alighting behaviour--in particular, individuals can be selected to concentrate oviposition on an abundant low-quality host, whilst ignoring a rare higher-quality host; (iv) emphasize the importance of interactions between mechanisms in favouring specialization or learning.

Authors: West, SA; Cunningham, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of theoretical biology
• Volume: 214
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 499-513
• Publication date: 2002-02-01
• DOI: 10.1006/jtbi.2001.2475
• EISSN: 1095-8541
• ISSN: 0022-5193
• Language: English
• Keywords: Plants; Choice Behavior; Insects; Animals; Oviposition; Models, Biological