S. Finch et Rh. Collier, Host-plant selection by insects - a theory based on 'appropriate/inappropriate landings' by pest insects of cruciferous plants, ENT EXP APP, 96(2), 2000, pp. 91-102
Seven hypotheses, including the 'Resource Concentration Hypothesis' and the
'Enemies Hypothesis', have been put forward to explain why fewer specialis
t insects are found on host plants growing in diverse backgrounds than on s
imilar plants growing in bare soil. All seven hypotheses are discussed and
discounted, primarily because no one has used any of them to produce a gene
ral theory of host plant selection, they still remain as hypotheses. Howeve
r, we have developed a general theory based on detailed observations of ins
ect behaviour. Our theory is based on the fact that during host plant findi
ng the searching insects land indiscriminately on green objects such as the
leaves of host plants (appropriate landings) and non-host plants (inapprop
riate landings), but avoid landing on brown surfaces, such as soil. The com
plete system of host plant selection involves a three-link chain of events
in which the first link is governed by cues from volatile plant chemicals,
the central link by visual stimuli, and the final link by cues from non-vol
atile plant chemicals. The previously 'missing' central link, which is base
d on what we have described as 'appropriate/inappropriate landings', is gov
erned by visual stimuli. Our theory explains why attempts to show that olfa
ction is the crucial component in the central link of host plant selection
proved intractable. The 'appropriate/inappropriate landings' theory is disc
ussed to indicate the type of work needed in future studies to improve our
understanding of how intercropping, undersowing and companion planting can
be used to optimum effect in crop protection. The new theory is used also t
o suggest how insect biotypes could develop and to describe why pest insect
s do not decimate wild host plants growing in 'natural' situations.