title: Host specialization involving attraction, avoidance and performance, in two phytophagous moth species.
abstract: Host specialization plays a key role in the extreme diversification of phytophagous insects. Whereas proximate mechanisms of specialization have been studied extensively, their consequences for species divergence remain unclear. Preference for, and performance on hosts are thought to be a major source of divergence in phytophagous insects. We assessed these major components of specialization in two moth species, the European corn borer (ECB) and the Adzuki bean borer (ABB), by testing their oviposition behaviour in different conditions (choice or no-choice set-ups) and their performances, by reciprocal transplant at the larval stage on the usual host and an alternative host plant. We demonstrated that both ABB and ECB have a strong preference for their host plants for oviposition, but that relative larval performances on the usual host and an alternative host differed according to the experiment and the trait considered (weight or survival). Finally, we show for the first time that the preference for maize in ECB conceals a strong avoidance of mugwort. The differences in performance, attraction and avoidance between ECB and ABB are discussed in the light of the underlying mechanisms and divergence process.
authors.affiliation: CBGP UMR 1062, INRA-IRD-CIRAD-Montpellier SupAgro, Montferrier sur Lez, France.|DGIMI UMR 1333, INRA-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orsucci
authors.affiliation: CBGP UMR 1062, INRA-IRD-CIRAD-Montpellier SupAgro, Montferrier sur Lez, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Audiot
authors.affiliation: CBGP UMR 1062, INRA-IRD-CIRAD-Montpellier SupAgro, Montferrier sur Lez, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pommier
authors.affiliation: MELGUEIL DIASCOPE UE 0398, INRA, Mauguio, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Raynaud
authors.affiliation: MELGUEIL DIASCOPE UE 0398, INRA, Mauguio, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ramora
authors.affiliation: MELGUEIL DIASCOPE UE 0398, INRA, Mauguio, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanetto
authors.affiliation: CBGP UMR 1062, INRA-IRD-CIRAD-Montpellier SupAgro, Montferrier sur Lez, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bourguet
authors.affiliation: CBGP UMR 1062, INRA-IRD-CIRAD-Montpellier SupAgro, Montferrier sur Lez, France.|DGIMI UMR 1333, INRA-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Streiff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D058507:Host Specificity; D007814:Larva; D009036:Moths / Q000502:physiology*; D010058:Oviposition; D013045:Species Specificity; D003313:Zea mays
keywords: attraction; avoidance; host specialization; performance; phytophagous insect; preference