I. Izhaki et al., IMPACT OF THE MIRID BUG CAPSODES-INFUSCATUS (HEMIPTERA, MIRIDAE) ON FRUIT PRODUCTION OF THE GEOPHYTE ASPHODELUS-AESTIVUS - THE EFFECT OF PLANT-DENSITY, The Florida entomologist, 79(4), 1996, pp. 510-520
The leaf, stalk, flower, and fruit of the geophyte Asphodelus aestivus
Brot. (Liliaceae) in east Mediterranean mesic habitats are mainly att
acked by the monophagous mirid bug Capsodes infuscatus Brulle (Hemipte
ra: Miridae). The sexual reproductive performance of A. aestivus was e
xamined under natural levels of insect herbivory at three different ho
st densities at the same site. Plants in the low and medium density pl
ots were heavily attacked by C. infuscatus and failed to produce fruit
s, while plants from high density plots were less intensively attacked
and produced some fruits. The observed inversely density-dependent da
mages are discussed with respect to plant compensation, population dyn
amics, and sexual vs. asexual reproduction.