IMPACT OF THE MIRID BUG CAPSODES-INFUSCATUS (HEMIPTERA, MIRIDAE) ON FRUIT PRODUCTION OF THE GEOPHYTE ASPHODELUS-AESTIVUS - THE EFFECT OF PLANT-DENSITY

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.