ON THE CONDITIONAL NATURE OF NEOTROPICAL CATERPILLAR DEFENSES AGAINST THEIR NATURAL ENEMIES

摘要: Lepidopteran larvae possess multiple defenses against a diverse group of predators and parasitoids. Many studies larval have determined whether defense works particular enemy, but the question which types are most effective enemy has not been examined closely. We assessed efficacy different caterpillar parasitoid wasps, flies, nematodes, compared results to earlier work with predatory invertebrates. Third fifth instar caterpillars from 266 species 30 families were collected in lowland wet forest Costa Rica during dry seasons 1996 through 1999, scored for various behavioral morphological defenses, then reared laboratory. Defense categories used as predictor variables logit models parasitism response variable. Whether or was depended on taxon that attacked. Caterpillars attacked by flies benefited solitary, exophytic feeding habit; wasps deterred biting, dropping, regurgitating; nematodes both solitary habit defenses. Mortality caused parasitoids high normally protected predators. In particular, chemically defended herbivores undesirable meals safe hosts