Hostplant-Related Causes of Unequal Parasitoid Exploitation of Two Leafminers, Tildenia Georgei and Tildenia Inconspicuella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), on Solanaceous Weeds (Defensive Behavior, Life History, Plant Trichomes, Species Richness, Enemy-Free Space)

Two leafminers (Tildenia georgei on groundcherry, Physalis heterophylla var. ambigua, and Tildenia inconspicuella on horsenettle, Solanum carolinense), sampled in a large old field in Mason Co., Illinois, U.S.A., June-August, 1977-1980, differed markedly in vulnerability to parasitoids. Only two primary parasitoid species consistently parasitized T. georgei (n = 2317 leafminers reared). T. inconspicuella (n = 3354) was attacked by these two plus seven other species that never attacked T. georgei. Mean yearly parasitoid species richness/hostplant patch/sampling date was 2-5 times higher and species diversity and richness/date were 2-3 times greater on T. inconspicuella despite similar leafminer densities and correction for possible sampling, rearing, and patch location biases. T. inconspicuella generally suffered higher % parasitism.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Gross, Paul

• Biology, Ecology

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(UMI)AAI8511612

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/77622