Sammanfattning

In gregarious insects, groups commonly originate from females laying eggs in masses and feeding groups are established as soon as larvae hatch. Some group-living insect species may aggregate beyond the individual parent level, such that offspring from two or more egg masses develop within a common resource. Here we show that aggregative oviposition can vary with population density at oviposition and possibly be an important factor in outbreak dynamics of phytophagous insects. We analysed density data with respect to egg mass aggregation for two species of pine processionary moths, Thaumetopoea pinivora (in Sweden 2005-2019) and T. pityocampa (in Spain 1973-1991). Both species lay their eggs in egg masses and feed in groups. During the study periods, insect population density for both species varied by at least an order of magnitude. The two species showed strikingly similar patterns of egg mass aggregation. Egg masses were overdispersed at high population density, with few trees showing a high load of egg masses. Our data suggest that aggregative oviposition can be important in explaining the previously documented higher propensity for outbreaks in insects laying eggs in clusters, compared with those laying individual eggs.

Nyckelord

egg mass; gregariousness; group living; Lepidoptera; Notodontidae; Thaumetopoea

Publicerad i

Ecological Entomology
2023, Volym: 48, nummer: 1, sidor: 102-111
Utgivare: WILEY

SLU författare

• Larsson, Stig

  • Institutionen för ekologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

Associerade SLU-program

SLU Nätverk växtskydd
SLU Skogsskadecentrum


UKÄ forskningsämne

Zoologi


Publikationens identifierare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/een.13205

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/119928