Group size in a gregarious tortoise beetle: patterns of oviposition vs. larval behaviour

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dc.contributor.authorCosta, Juan F.
dc.contributor.authorCosio, Walter
dc.contributor.authorGianoli, Ernesto
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-21T01:05:22Z
dc.date.available2025-01-21T01:05:22Z
dc.date.issued2007
dc.description.abstractIn laboratory and garden experiments, we tested for the existence of adaptive patterns of oviposition and larval behaviour regarding group size in the gregarious tortoise beetle Chelymorpha varians Blanchard (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) on its host plant Calystegia sepium L. (Convolvulaceae). Specifically, we addressed the following questions: (i) Which is the more frequent egg cluster size? (ii) Does cluster size fully predict larval group size? (iii) Are newborn larvae attracted or repelled to conspecific groupings? and (iv) Which is the group size associated with enhanced larval development and adult mass? We found that the mean cluster size was 21.4 eggs. Egg hatch time was significantly shorter in larger clusters. A regression analysis of larval group size against cluster size showed non-significant results. Thus, original cluster size did not totally determine the larval group size. The mean larval group size was 17.1. Choice tests in an experimental arena showed that larvae clearly preferred leaves of a host plant rather than moistened papers, and that larvae preferred a small group of conspecifics (four larvae per leaf) over larger groups (12 or 20 larvae). Empty leaves of the host plant showed an intermediate level of preference. Development time and beetle performance (adult mass) were affected by larval group size. Larvae in the smallest group (one per leaf) took four more days to attain adulthood than larvae in the larger groups (12 and 20 larvae). Adult C. varians reared in the 12-larvae group were significantly larger than those reared at the other densities. Comparison of patterns across experimental groups, excluding the 12-larvae group, showed a tendency for a greater final mass with slower developmental rate.
dc.fuente.origenWOS
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/j.1570-7458.2007.00612.x
dc.identifier.eissn1570-7458
dc.identifier.issn0013-8703
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1570-7458.2007.00612.x
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorio.uc.cl/handle/11534/95899
dc.identifier.wosidWOS:000250262100007
dc.issue.numero2
dc.language.isoen
dc.pagina.final169
dc.pagina.inicio165
dc.revistaEntomologia experimentalis et applicata
dc.rightsacceso restringido
dc.subjectgregarious behaviour
dc.subjectcluster size
dc.subjectgrowth
dc.subjectChelymorpha varians
dc.subjectCassidinae
dc.subjectColeoptera
dc.subjectChrysomelidae
dc.subject.ods02 Zero Hunger
dc.subject.ods13 Climate Action
dc.subject.ods15 Life on Land
dc.subject.odspa02 Hambre cero
dc.subject.odspa13 Acción por el clima
dc.subject.odspa15 Vida de ecosistemas terrestres
dc.titleGroup size in a gregarious tortoise beetle: patterns of oviposition vs. larval behaviour
dc.typeartículo
dc.volumen125
sipa.indexWOS
sipa.trazabilidadWOS;2025-01-12
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