Nutrient regulation in relation to diet breadth: a comparison of Heliothis sister species and a hybrid.

摘要: We examined the nutritional correlates of diet breadth in insect herbivores by comparing patterns selection, nutrient balancing, post-ingestive utilization and development two sister species caterpillar a hybrid between them. One species, Heliothis virescens (HV) has broad host range, feeding on plants at least 14 families. The other, subflexa (HS), is specialist genus Physalis (Solanaceae). Experiments using synthetic foods showed that when caterpillars were allowed to mix their diet, generalist self-selected higher-protein whereas ate almost equal amounts protein carbohydrate, which accords with differences content natural diets. When confined nutritionally imbalanced diets, propensity over-eat high protein:carbohydrate (P:C) diets greater degree than did maintained higher rates development. not, however, low P:C same as specialist. selected composition was indistinguishable its father (HV), while response closely similar mother (HS). converted ingested growth lower efficiency hybrid. Our findings imply different behavioural physiological traits linked regulation are under genetic control explicable terms life-histories, ecologies presumed levels heterogeneity environments insects.