Recolonization by native species following removal of invasive plant species can often be uneven and lead to the rapid increase of one or a few native plant species. This can result in the formation of a significant resource pulse that may consequently affect populations of herbivorous species and their natural enemies. Here we present results from observations of parasitism rates during a localized outbreak of the Asimina webworm moth, Omphalocera munroei, a locally monophagous herbivore of the common paw-paw. Asimina triloba. This outbreak initiated from locations of increased understory growth of A. triloba, following the removal of Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii). Parasitism rates during the outbreak reached 50%, with higher parasitism rates observed in larvae collected at the end of the local outbreak relative to those the year following the peak of the outbreak. Parasitism rates remained high 3 y after the end of the local O. munroei outbreak, indicating >7 y of high parasitoid densities. O. munroei emerges late in the growing season, making it fairly inaccessible as a host or prey to many generalist predators/parasitoids, which emerge earlier the following year. This suggests the O. munroei outbreak potentially contributed to an increase in natural enemy pressure of other native species in the community.
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10 August 2022
Parasitoid Increase During an Outbreak of a Native Herbivorous Insect Following Small-scale Amur Honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) Removal
Rodrigo J. Mercader,
Logan R. Appenfeller,
Patrick O. McCoy,
Takrima Sadikot,
Joshua L. Smith
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The American Midland Naturalist
Vol. 188 • No. 1
July 2022
Vol. 188 • No. 1
July 2022