title: Lobesia botrana larvae develop faster in the presence of parasitoids.
abstract: To combat parasitism hosts often rely on their immune system, which is the last line of defense. However, the immune system may not always be effective, and other non-immunological defenses might be favored to reduce the cost of parasite infection. Here we report that larvae of the moth Lobesia botrana can rapidly accelerate their development and reach maturity earlier in response to cues perceived at a distance from parasitoids. Such a phenotypically plastic life history shift, induced by the perception of deadly enemies in the environment, is likely to be an adaptive defensive strategy to prevent parasitoid attack, and has important implications in host-parasite dynamics.
authors.affiliation: Université de Bourgogne, Equipe Ecologie Evolutive, UMR 6282 Biogéosciences, Dijon, France.
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vogelweith
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moret
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thiery
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreau
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D007814:Larva / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D009036:Moths / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology*