S. Hannunen et B. Ekbom, Host plant influence on movement patterns and subsequent distribution of the polyphagous herbivore Lygus rugulipennis (Heteroptera : Miridae), ENV ENTOMOL, 30(3), 2001, pp. 517-523
We studied movement patterns of nymphs of a highly polyphagous herbivore, L
ygus rugulipennis Poppius (Heteroptera: Miridae) on two host plants, wheat
(Triticum aestivum) and scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum Schult
z). We used the observed movement pat terns to model redistribution of nymp
hs with an individual based movement model and with a diffusion approximati
on of random walk, and we tested the predictions of the models by following
redistribution of nymphs on small arenas in the laboratory. The nymphs wer
e clearly more mobile on wheat than on T. inodorum, and on the arenas most
of nymphs were found on T. inadorum after the period of redistribution. Bot
h the simulation model and the diffusion approximation of random walk predi
cted the distribution well. The ability of the models to predict equilibriu
m distribution oft, rugulipennis nymphs in heterogeneous space, even though
they were parameterized with data collected in homogenous vegetation, sugg
ests that the observed distribution of individuals may have been caused by
the host plant induced differences in movement patterns. The high speed of
redistribution predicted by the models suggests that no tactic behavior, e.
g., orientation toward T. inodorum, is needed for locating preferred hosts
in a heterogeneous vegetation composed of small patches.