title: Impact of acidic deposition onEncelia farinosa gray (Compositae: Asteraceae) and feeding preferences ofTrirhabda geminata horn (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).
abstract: Container grownEncelia farinosa were exposed to three 3-hr episodes of acidic fog (pH 2.5) typical of events in southern California. Adults and larvae of the specialist leaf-feeding herbivore,Trirhabda geminata, preferred to feed on the acidic-treated foliage compared to control fogged (pH 6.3-6.5) foliage. Previous feeding damage on the plants did not affect feeding preference. The acidic-fogged foliage was significantly higher in total nitrogen and soluble protein but not different from control-treated tissue in water content. Stress on native populations of this drought-deciduous shrub caused by atmospheric pollutants may also result in altered feeding ecology of the beetle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, University of California, 92521, Riverside, California.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Paine
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Redak
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Trumble