Conditioning and genetic variation as causes of individual variation in the oviposition behaviour of the tortoise beetle, Deloyala guttata

Individuals of the tortoise beetle (Deloyala guttata) from sites containing different host plants differ genetically in performance on different hosts. Because individual variation in habitat (host) preference could contribute to the maintenance of these genetic differences, this study was undertaken to find out whether D. guttata exhibits such variation, and if so, to determine the causes of that variation. No evidence for either larval conditioning or genetic variation in oviposition preference was obtained. An effect of adult experience on oviposition preference was detected, but the magnitude of the effect was so small that it probably has little influence on genetic divergence in traits affecting growth and fecundity. It is concluded that behavioural variation does not contribute to maintenance of the observed genetic divergence. © 1983.

Duke Scholars

Author Mark D. Rausher Biology