Rj. Hopkins et B. Ekbom, LOW OVIPOSITION STIMULI REDUCE EGG-PRODUCTION IN THE POLLEN BEETLE MELIGETHES AENEUS, Physiological entomology, 21(2), 1996, pp. 118-122
Gravid female pollen beetles, Meligethes aeneus (F.) (Coleoptera: Niti
dulidae), were exposed at different intervals to oviposition sites tha
t varied in acceptability. The egg load of dissected individuals which
had been deprived of oviposition sites was not greater than individua
ls which had been frequently exposed to oviposition sites. However, th
e egg load of individuals which had been exposed to highly acceptable
host plants was greater than those exposed to a host plant of low acce
ptability. Over the experimental period the total number of eggs which
an individual produced was lower for those that were either deprived
of an oviposition site or frequently exposed to a low-quality host pla
nt. There was no evidence of either increased oviposition probability
or clutch size as the period since the last oviposition increased. It
is concluded that low host quality and low host encounter rate reduce
the egg production of M. aeneus. It is further concluded that the supp
ressed egg production reduces the accumulation of eggs, so that physio
logical motivation for the insect to oviposit is not increased. If low
oviposition site quality acts to reduce oogenesis, as found here, the
n the probability of egg deposition on low-quality species may not inc
rease over time and the effect of antixenotic resistance may be enhanc
ed.